Hastings College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Hastings College charges a net price of $24,452/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $97,808. Graduates earn a median $51,303 ten years after entry, $2,943/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 33.2 years — a 20-year net return of -$38,948, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Hastings College's 33.2-year payback ranks #1,145 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 11% of them, and #14 of 27 in Nebraska.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $24,452/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $97,808 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $51,303 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $2,943/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $27,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 33.2 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$38,948 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Hastings College's own numbers. Net price $24,452 × 4 years = $97,808 total. Median earnings $51,303 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $2,943 a year of premium. $97,808 ÷ $2,943 = 33.2 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves -$38,948. 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 Hastings College students graduate with?
A median $27,000 in federal loans among completers, or 53% of the $51,303 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Hastings College students graduate?
49% finish their degree — 51% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $97,808 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $199,608 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Hastings College expensive compared with other Nebraska colleges?
Its $24,452 net price runs $6,902 above the $17,550 median across the 27 Nebraska colleges we profile, or $27,608 more across the full degree.