Donnelly College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Donnelly College charges a net price of $11,476/yr after aid — a 2-year total of $22,952. Median earnings ten years after entry are $35,715, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Donnelly College does not clear its cost — it ranks #52 of 57 Kansas colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $11,476/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (2 yrs) | $22,952 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $35,715 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$12,645/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $11,842 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$275,852 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Donnelly College's own numbers. Net price $11,476 × 2 years = $22,952 total. Median earnings $35,715 fall $12,645 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $22,952 bill in about 2.3 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Donnelly College students graduate with?
A median $11,842 in federal loans among completers, or 33% of the $35,715 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Donnelly College students graduate?
46% finish their degree — 54% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $22,952 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $49,896 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Donnelly College expensive compared with other Kansas colleges?
Its $11,476 net price runs $3,804 below the $15,280 median across the 57 Kansas colleges we profile, and $7,608 less across the full degree.