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Keene State College — ROI, Cost & Payback

Public · Keene, NH · 2,699 students

The verdict

Keene State College charges a net price of $17,887/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $71,548. Graduates earn a median $54,368 ten years after entry, $6,008/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 11.9 years — a 20-year net return of $48,612, a slow but positive payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Keene State College's 11.9-year payback ranks #866 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 32% of them, and #8 of 20 in New Hampshire.

Better ROI than 32% of US colleges#866 of 1,280
Weakest ROIStrongest ROI
$17,887
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$54,368
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
11.9 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
90%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
Keene State College: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$17,887/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$71,548our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$54,368Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$6,008/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$25,749Scorecard, 2026
Payback11.9 yrsour math
20-year net return$48,612our math

College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.

The arithmetic, on Keene State College's own numbers. Net price $17,887 × 4 years = $71,548 total. Median earnings $54,368 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $6,008 a year of premium. $71,548 ÷ $6,008 = 11.9 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $48,612. 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 Keene State College students graduate with?

A median $25,749 in federal loans among completers, or 47% of the $54,368 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.

What share of Keene State College students graduate?

60% finish their degree — 40% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $71,548 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $119,247 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is Keene State College expensive compared with other New Hampshire colleges?

Its $17,887 net price runs $727 below the $18,614 median across the 20 New Hampshire colleges we profile, and $2,906 less across the full degree.

Keene State College: frequently asked questions

Is Keene State College worth the cost?
On the numbers, yes. Keene State College charges $17,887/yr after aid ($71,548 over 4 years), and graduates earn a median $54,368 ten years out — $6,008/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. That clears the cost in 11.9 years and returns $48,612 net over 20 years, a slow but positive payback.
How long does a Keene State College degree take to pay off?
About 11.9 years. We divide the $71,548 four-year net cost by the $6,008/yr earnings premium over the high-school baseline. It is a floor, not a ceiling — mid-career raises pay it back faster.
How much does Keene State College cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $17,887/yr — about $71,548 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does Keene State College compare to other New Hampshire colleges?
It ranks #8 of 20 New Hampshire colleges we track by payback. Its $54,368 median earnings beat the national median of $43,549, and its $17,887 net price is above the national median of $16,902.