Graceland University-Lamoni — ROI, Cost & Payback
Graceland University-Lamoni charges a net price of $18,504/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $74,016. Median earnings ten years after entry are $47,361, 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, Graceland University-Lamoni does not clear its cost — it ranks #28 of 47 Iowa colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $18,504/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $74,016 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $47,361 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$999/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $21,212 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$93,996 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Graceland University-Lamoni's own numbers. Net price $18,504 × 4 years = $74,016 total. Median earnings $47,361 fall $999 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 $74,016 bill in about 7.4 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Graceland University-Lamoni students graduate with?
A median $21,212 in federal loans among completers, or 45% of the $47,361 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Graceland University-Lamoni students graduate?
42% finish their degree — 58% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $74,016 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $176,229 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Graceland University-Lamoni expensive compared with other Iowa colleges?
Its $18,504 net price runs $85 below the $18,589 median across the 47 Iowa colleges we profile, and $340 less across the full degree.