Trine University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Trine University charges a net price of $25,355/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $101,420. Graduates earn a median $57,165 ten years after entry, $8,805/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 11.5 years — a 20-year net return of $74,680, a slow but positive payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Trine University's 11.5-year payback ranks #851 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 34% of them, and #18 of 56 in Indiana.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $25,355/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $101,420 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $57,165 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $8,805/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $25,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 11.5 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $74,680 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Trine University's own numbers. Net price $25,355 × 4 years = $101,420 total. Median earnings $57,165 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $8,805 a year of premium. $101,420 ÷ $8,805 = 11.5 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $74,680. 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 Trine University students graduate with?
A median $25,000 in federal loans among completers, or 44% of the $57,165 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Trine University students graduate?
64% finish their degree — 36% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $101,420 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $158,469 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Trine University expensive compared with other Indiana colleges?
Its $25,355 net price runs $5,658 above the $19,698 median across the 56 Indiana colleges we profile, or $22,630 more across the full degree.