Hampden-Sydney College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Hampden-Sydney College charges a net price of $22,400/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $89,600. Graduates earn a median $67,640 ten years after entry, $19,280/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 4.6 years — a 20-year net return of $296,000, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Hampden-Sydney College's 4.6-year payback ranks #371 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 71% of them, and #14 of 81 in Virginia.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $22,400/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $89,600 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $67,640 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $19,280/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $26,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 4.6 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $296,000 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Hampden-Sydney College's own numbers. Net price $22,400 × 4 years = $89,600 total. Median earnings $67,640 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $19,280 a year of premium. $89,600 ÷ $19,280 = 4.6 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $296,000. 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 Hampden-Sydney College students graduate with?
A median $26,000 in federal loans among completers, or 38% of the $67,640 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Hampden-Sydney College students graduate?
62% finish their degree — 38% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $89,600 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $144,516 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Hampden-Sydney College expensive compared with other Virginia colleges?
Its $22,400 net price runs $3,334 above the $19,066 median across the 81 Virginia colleges we profile, or $13,336 more across the full degree.