Bluffton University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Bluffton University charges a net price of $19,943/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $79,772. Graduates earn a median $49,547 ten years after entry, $1,187/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 67.2 years — a 20-year net return of -$56,032, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Bluffton University's 67.2-year payback ranks #1,211 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 5% of them, and #61 of 144 in Ohio.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $19,943/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $79,772 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $49,547 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $1,187/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $27,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 67.2 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$56,032 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Bluffton University's own numbers. Net price $19,943 × 4 years = $79,772 total. Median earnings $49,547 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $1,187 a year of premium. $79,772 ÷ $1,187 = 67.2 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves -$56,032. 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 Bluffton University students graduate with?
A median $27,000 in federal loans among completers, or 54% of the $49,547 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Bluffton University students graduate?
53% finish their degree — 47% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $79,772 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $150,513 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Bluffton University expensive compared with other Ohio colleges?
Its $19,943 net price runs $161 above the $19,783 median across the 144 Ohio colleges we profile, or $642 more across the full degree.