Freed-Hardeman University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Freed-Hardeman University charges a net price of $21,574/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $86,296. Median earnings ten years after entry are $47,485, 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, Freed-Hardeman University does not clear its cost — it ranks #24 of 91 Tennessee colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $21,574/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $86,296 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $47,485 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$875/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $21,500 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$103,796 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Freed-Hardeman University's own numbers. Net price $21,574 × 4 years = $86,296 total. Median earnings $47,485 fall $875 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 $86,296 bill in about 8.6 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Freed-Hardeman University students graduate with?
A median $21,500 in federal loans among completers, or 45% of the $47,485 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Freed-Hardeman University students graduate?
71% finish their degree. Spread the $86,296 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $121,544 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Freed-Hardeman University expensive compared with other Tennessee colleges?
Its $21,574 net price runs $6,305 above the $15,269 median across the 91 Tennessee colleges we profile, or $25,220 more across the full degree.