Jefferson College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Jefferson College charges a net price of $7,378/yr after aid — a 2-year total of $14,756. Median earnings ten years after entry are $40,782, 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, Jefferson College does not clear its cost — it ranks #37 of 71 Missouri colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $7,378/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (2 yrs) | $14,756 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $40,782 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$7,578/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $9,285 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$166,316 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Jefferson College's own numbers. Net price $7,378 × 2 years = $14,756 total. Median earnings $40,782 fall $7,578 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 $14,756 bill in about 1.5 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Jefferson College students graduate with?
A median $9,285 in federal loans among completers, or 23% of the $40,782 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Jefferson College students graduate?
38% finish their degree — 62% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $14,756 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $38,832 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Jefferson College expensive compared with other Missouri colleges?
Its $7,378 net price runs $10,708 below the $18,086 median across the 71 Missouri colleges we profile, and $21,416 less across the full degree.