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Franklin and Marshall College — ROI, Cost & Payback

Private nonprofit · Lancaster, PA · 1,799 students

The verdict

Franklin and Marshall College charges a net price of $36,425/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $145,700. Graduates earn a median $76,124 ten years after entry, $27,764/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 5.2 years — a 20-year net return of $409,580, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Franklin and Marshall College's 5.2-year payback ranks #441 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 66% of them, and #39 of 169 in Pennsylvania.

Better ROI than 66% of US colleges#441 of 1,280
Weakest ROIStrongest ROI
$36,425
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$76,124
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
5.2 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
28%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
Franklin and Marshall College: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$36,425/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$145,700our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$76,124Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$27,764/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$19,000Scorecard, 2026
Payback5.2 yrsour math
20-year net return$409,580our math

College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.

The arithmetic, on Franklin and Marshall College's own numbers. Net price $36,425 × 4 years = $145,700 total. Median earnings $76,124 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $27,764 a year of premium. $145,700 ÷ $27,764 = 5.2 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $409,580. 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 Franklin and Marshall College students graduate with?

A median $19,000 in federal loans among completers, or 25% of the $76,124 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.

What share of Franklin and Marshall College students graduate?

84% finish their degree. Spread the $145,700 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $173,452 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is Franklin and Marshall College expensive compared with other Pennsylvania colleges?

Its $36,425 net price runs $14,684 above the $21,741 median across the 169 Pennsylvania colleges we profile, or $58,736 more across the full degree.

Franklin and Marshall College: frequently asked questions

Is Franklin and Marshall College worth the cost?
On the numbers, yes. Franklin and Marshall College charges $36,425/yr after aid ($145,700 over 4 years), and graduates earn a median $76,124 ten years out — $27,764/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. That clears the cost in 5.2 years and returns $409,580 net over 20 years, a solid payback.
How long does a Franklin and Marshall College degree take to pay off?
About 5.2 years. We divide the $145,700 four-year net cost by the $27,764/yr earnings premium over the high-school baseline. It is a floor, not a ceiling — mid-career raises pay it back faster.
How much does Franklin and Marshall College cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $36,425/yr — about $145,700 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does Franklin and Marshall College compare to other Pennsylvania colleges?
It ranks #39 of 169 Pennsylvania colleges we track by payback. Its $76,124 median earnings beat the national median of $43,549, and its $36,425 net price is above the national median of $16,902.