Alverno College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Alverno College charges a net price of $22,540/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $90,160. Graduates earn a median $53,145 ten years after entry, $4,785/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 18.8 years — a 20-year net return of $5,540, a slow but positive payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Alverno College's 18.8-year payback ranks #1,041 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 19% of them, and #27 of 53 in Wisconsin.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $22,540/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $90,160 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $53,145 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $4,785/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $27,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 18.8 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $5,540 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Alverno College's own numbers. Net price $22,540 × 4 years = $90,160 total. Median earnings $53,145 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $4,785 a year of premium. $90,160 ÷ $4,785 = 18.8 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $5,540. 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 Alverno College students graduate with?
A median $27,000 in federal loans among completers, or 51% of the $53,145 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Alverno College students graduate?
49% finish their degree — 51% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $90,160 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $184,000 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Alverno College expensive compared with other Wisconsin colleges?
Its $22,540 net price runs $7,347 above the $15,193 median across the 53 Wisconsin colleges we profile, or $29,388 more across the full degree.