Marshall University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Marshall University charges a net price of $7,502/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $30,008. Median earnings ten years after entry are $46,354, 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, Marshall University does not clear its cost — it ranks #9 of 30 West Virginia colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $7,502/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $30,008 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $46,354 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$2,006/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $23,250 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$70,128 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Marshall University's own numbers. Net price $7,502 × 4 years = $30,008 total. Median earnings $46,354 fall $2,006 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 $30,008 bill in about 3.0 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Marshall University students graduate with?
A median $23,250 in federal loans among completers, or 50% of the $46,354 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Marshall University students graduate?
51% finish their degree — 49% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $30,008 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $58,839 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Marshall University expensive compared with other West Virginia colleges?
Its $7,502 net price runs $3,228 below the $10,730 median across the 30 West Virginia colleges we profile, and $12,912 less across the full degree.