Hamline University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Hamline University charges a net price of $20,744/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $82,976. Graduates earn a median $61,106 ten years after entry, $12,746/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 6.5 years — a 20-year net return of $171,944, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Hamline University's 6.5-year payback ranks #568 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 56% of them, and #15 of 68 in Minnesota.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $20,744/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $82,976 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $61,106 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $12,746/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $23,770 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 6.5 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $171,944 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Hamline University's own numbers. Net price $20,744 × 4 years = $82,976 total. Median earnings $61,106 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $12,746 a year of premium. $82,976 ÷ $12,746 = 6.5 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $171,944. 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 Hamline University students graduate with?
A median $23,770 in federal loans among completers, or 39% of the $61,106 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Hamline University students graduate?
60% finish their degree — 40% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $82,976 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $138,293 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Hamline University expensive compared with other Minnesota colleges?
Its $20,744 net price runs $3,924 above the $16,821 median across the 68 Minnesota colleges we profile, or $15,694 more across the full degree.