Rhodes College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Rhodes College charges a net price of $28,585/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $114,340. Graduates earn a median $66,651 ten years after entry, $18,291/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 6.3 years — a 20-year net return of $251,480, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Rhodes College's 6.3-year payback ranks #552 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 57% of them, and #5 of 91 in Tennessee.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $28,585/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $114,340 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $66,651 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $18,291/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $21,761 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 6.3 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $251,480 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Rhodes College's own numbers. Net price $28,585 × 4 years = $114,340 total. Median earnings $66,651 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $18,291 a year of premium. $114,340 ÷ $18,291 = 6.3 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $251,480. 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 Rhodes College students graduate with?
A median $21,761 in federal loans among completers, or 33% of the $66,651 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Rhodes College students graduate?
85% finish their degree. Spread the $114,340 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $134,518 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Rhodes College expensive compared with other Tennessee colleges?
Its $28,585 net price runs $13,316 above the $15,269 median across the 91 Tennessee colleges we profile, or $53,264 more across the full degree.