Defiance College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Defiance College charges a net price of $26,337/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $105,348. Graduates earn a median $49,351 ten years after entry, $991/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 106.3 years — a 20-year net return of -$85,528, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Defiance College's 106.3-year payback ranks #1,234 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 4% of them, and #63 of 144 in Ohio.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $26,337/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $105,348 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $49,351 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $991/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $26,813 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 106.3 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$85,528 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Defiance College's own numbers. Net price $26,337 × 4 years = $105,348 total. Median earnings $49,351 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $991 a year of premium. $105,348 ÷ $991 = 106.3 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves -$85,528. 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 Defiance College students graduate with?
A median $26,813 in federal loans among completers, or 54% of the $49,351 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Defiance College students graduate?
31% finish their degree — 69% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $105,348 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $339,832 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Defiance College expensive compared with other Ohio colleges?
Its $26,337 net price runs $6,555 above the $19,783 median across the 144 Ohio colleges we profile, or $26,218 more across the full degree.