Houghton University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Houghton University charges a net price of $20,519/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $82,076. Median earnings ten years after entry are $46,721, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Houghton University does not clear its cost — it ranks #122 of 203 New York colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $20,519/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $82,076 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $46,721 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$1,639/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $25,250 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$114,856 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Houghton University's own numbers. Net price $20,519 × 4 years = $82,076 total. Median earnings $46,721 fall $1,639 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $82,076 bill in about 8.2 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Houghton University students graduate with?
A median $25,250 in federal loans among completers, or 54% of the $46,721 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Houghton University students graduate?
65% finish their degree — 35% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $82,076 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $126,271 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Houghton University expensive compared with other New York colleges?
Its $20,519 net price runs $1,606 above the $18,913 median across the 203 New York colleges we profile, or $6,424 more across the full degree.