Earlham College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Earlham College charges a net price of $24,714/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $98,856. Graduates earn a median $50,797 ten years after entry, $2,437/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 40.6 years — a 20-year net return of -$50,116, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Earlham College's 40.6-year payback ranks #1,170 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 9% of them, and #27 of 56 in Indiana.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $24,714/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $98,856 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $50,797 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $2,437/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $23,488 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 40.6 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$50,116 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Earlham College's own numbers. Net price $24,714 × 4 years = $98,856 total. Median earnings $50,797 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $2,437 a year of premium. $98,856 ÷ $2,437 = 40.6 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves -$50,116. 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 Earlham College students graduate with?
A median $23,488 in federal loans among completers, or 46% of the $50,797 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Earlham College students graduate?
69% finish their degree — 31% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $98,856 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $143,270 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Earlham College expensive compared with other Indiana colleges?
Its $24,714 net price runs $5,017 above the $19,698 median across the 56 Indiana colleges we profile, or $20,066 more across the full degree.