Hope College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Hope College charges a net price of $27,182/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $108,728. Graduates earn a median $58,427 ten years after entry, $10,067/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 10.8 years — a 20-year net return of $92,612, a slow but positive payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Hope College's 10.8-year payback ranks #821 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 36% of them, and #23 of 85 in Michigan.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $27,182/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $108,728 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $58,427 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $10,067/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $26,800 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 10.8 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $92,612 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Hope College's own numbers. Net price $27,182 × 4 years = $108,728 total. Median earnings $58,427 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $10,067 a year of premium. $108,728 ÷ $10,067 = 10.8 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $92,612. 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 Hope College students graduate with?
A median $26,800 in federal loans among completers, or 46% of the $58,427 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Hope College students graduate?
80% finish their degree. Spread the $108,728 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $135,910 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Hope College expensive compared with other Michigan colleges?
Its $27,182 net price runs $12,881 above the $14,301 median across the 85 Michigan colleges we profile, or $51,524 more across the full degree.