Maharishi International University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Maharishi International University charges a net price of $14,956/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $59,824. Median earnings ten years after entry are $27,981, 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, Maharishi International University does not clear its cost — it ranks #47 of 47 Iowa colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $14,956/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $59,824 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $27,981 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$20,379/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $24,781 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$467,404 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Maharishi International University's own numbers. Net price $14,956 × 4 years = $59,824 total. Median earnings $27,981 fall $20,379 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 $59,824 bill in about 6.0 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Maharishi International University students graduate with?
A median $24,781 in federal loans among completers, or 89% of the $27,981 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Maharishi International University students graduate?
50% finish their degree — 50% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $59,824 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $119,648 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Maharishi International University expensive compared with other Iowa colleges?
Its $14,956 net price runs $3,633 below the $18,589 median across the 47 Iowa colleges we profile, and $14,532 less across the full degree.