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Loras College — ROI, Cost & Payback

Private nonprofit · Dubuque, IA · 1,083 students

The verdict

Loras College charges a net price of $20,716/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $82,864. Graduates earn a median $58,289 ten years after entry, $9,929/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 8.3 years — a 20-year net return of $115,716, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Loras College's 8.3-year payback ranks #707 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 45% of them, and #9 of 47 in Iowa.

Better ROI than 45% of US colleges#707 of 1,280
Weakest ROIStrongest ROI
$20,716
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$58,289
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
8.3 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
100%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
Loras College: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$20,716/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$82,864our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$58,289Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$9,929/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$26,000Scorecard, 2026
Payback8.3 yrsour math
20-year net return$115,716our math

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

The arithmetic, on Loras College's own numbers. Net price $20,716 × 4 years = $82,864 total. Median earnings $58,289 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $9,929 a year of premium. $82,864 ÷ $9,929 = 8.3 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $115,716. 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 Loras College students graduate with?

A median $26,000 in federal loans among completers, or 45% of the $58,289 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.

What share of Loras College students graduate?

68% finish their degree — 32% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $82,864 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $121,859 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is Loras College expensive compared with other Iowa colleges?

Its $20,716 net price runs $2,127 above the $18,589 median across the 47 Iowa colleges we profile, or $8,508 more across the full degree.

Loras College: frequently asked questions

Is Loras College worth the cost?
On the numbers, yes. Loras College charges $20,716/yr after aid ($82,864 over 4 years), and graduates earn a median $58,289 ten years out — $9,929/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. That clears the cost in 8.3 years and returns $115,716 net over 20 years, a solid payback.
How long does a Loras College degree take to pay off?
About 8.3 years. We divide the $82,864 four-year net cost by the $9,929/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 Loras College cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $20,716/yr — about $82,864 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does Loras College compare to other Iowa colleges?
It ranks #9 of 47 Iowa colleges we track by payback. Its $58,289 median earnings beat the national median of $43,549, and its $20,716 net price is above the national median of $16,902.