Scripps College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Scripps College charges a net price of $36,294/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $145,176. Graduates earn a median $77,539 ten years after entry, $29,179/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 5 years — a 20-year net return of $438,404, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Scripps College's 5-year payback ranks #429 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 67% of them, and #73 of 334 in California.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $36,294/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $145,176 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $77,539 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $29,179/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $13,500 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 5 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $438,404 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Scripps College's own numbers. Net price $36,294 × 4 years = $145,176 total. Median earnings $77,539 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $29,179 a year of premium. $145,176 ÷ $29,179 = 5 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $438,404. 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 Scripps College students graduate with?
A median $13,500 in federal loans among completers, or 17% of the $77,539 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Scripps College students graduate?
83% finish their degree. Spread the $145,176 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $174,911 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Scripps College expensive compared with other California colleges?
Its $36,294 net price runs $16,389 above the $19,905 median across the 334 California colleges we profile, or $65,556 more across the full degree.