Adrian College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Adrian College charges a net price of $25,368/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $101,472. Graduates earn a median $55,504 ten years after entry, $7,144/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 14.2 years — a 20-year net return of $41,408, a slow but positive payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Adrian College's 14.2-year payback ranks #939 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 27% of them, and #27 of 85 in Michigan.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $25,368/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $101,472 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $55,504 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $7,144/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $27,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 14.2 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $41,408 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Adrian College's own numbers. Net price $25,368 × 4 years = $101,472 total. Median earnings $55,504 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $7,144 a year of premium. $101,472 ÷ $7,144 = 14.2 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $41,408. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Adrian College students graduate with?
A median $27,000 in federal loans among completers, or 49% of the $55,504 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Adrian College students graduate?
48% finish their degree — 52% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $101,472 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $211,400 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Adrian College expensive compared with other Michigan colleges?
Its $25,368 net price runs $11,067 above the $14,301 median across the 85 Michigan colleges we profile, or $44,268 more across the full degree.