Hobart William Smith Colleges — ROI, Cost & Payback
Hobart William Smith Colleges charges a net price of $31,563/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $126,252. Graduates earn a median $68,831 ten years after entry, $20,471/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 6.2 years — a 20-year net return of $283,168, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Hobart William Smith Colleges's 6.2-year payback ranks #537 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 58% of them, and #62 of 203 in New York.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $31,563/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $126,252 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $68,831 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $20,471/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $27,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 6.2 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $283,168 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Hobart William Smith Colleges's own numbers. Net price $31,563 × 4 years = $126,252 total. Median earnings $68,831 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $20,471 a year of premium. $126,252 ÷ $20,471 = 6.2 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $283,168. 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 Hobart William Smith Colleges students graduate with?
A median $27,000 in federal loans among completers, or 39% of the $68,831 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Hobart William Smith Colleges students graduate?
77% finish their degree. Spread the $126,252 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $163,964 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Hobart William Smith Colleges expensive compared with other New York colleges?
Its $31,563 net price runs $12,650 above the $18,913 median across the 203 New York colleges we profile, or $50,600 more across the full degree.