Meredith College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Meredith College charges a net price of $22,488/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $89,952. Graduates earn a median $51,539 ten years after entry, $3,179/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 28.3 years — a 20-year net return of -$26,372, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Meredith College's 28.3-year payback ranks #1,124 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 12% of them, and #20 of 115 in North Carolina.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $22,488/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $89,952 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $51,539 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $3,179/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $25,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 28.3 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$26,372 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Meredith College's own numbers. Net price $22,488 × 4 years = $89,952 total. Median earnings $51,539 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $3,179 a year of premium. $89,952 ÷ $3,179 = 28.3 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves -$26,372. 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 Meredith College students graduate with?
A median $25,000 in federal loans among completers, or 49% of the $51,539 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Meredith College students graduate?
70% finish their degree. Spread the $89,952 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $128,503 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Meredith College expensive compared with other North Carolina colleges?
Its $22,488 net price runs $11,642 above the $10,846 median across the 115 North Carolina colleges we profile, or $46,568 more across the full degree.