Reed College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Reed College charges a net price of $33,013/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $132,052. Graduates earn a median $62,927 ten years after entry, $14,567/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 9.1 years — a 20-year net return of $159,288, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Reed College's 9.1-year payback ranks #745 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 42% of them, and #8 of 38 in Oregon.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $33,013/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $132,052 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $62,927 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $14,567/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $21,500 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 9.1 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $159,288 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Reed College's own numbers. Net price $33,013 × 4 years = $132,052 total. Median earnings $62,927 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $14,567 a year of premium. $132,052 ÷ $14,567 = 9.1 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $159,288. 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 Reed College students graduate with?
A median $21,500 in federal loans among completers, or 34% of the $62,927 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Reed College students graduate?
71% finish their degree. Spread the $132,052 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $185,989 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Reed College expensive compared with other Oregon colleges?
Its $33,013 net price runs $16,073 above the $16,940 median across the 38 Oregon colleges we profile, or $64,292 more across the full degree.