Wabash College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Wabash College charges a net price of $24,336/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $97,344. Graduates earn a median $69,952 ten years after entry, $21,592/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 4.5 years — a 20-year net return of $334,496, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Wabash College's 4.5-year payback ranks #365 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 72% of them, and #7 of 56 in Indiana.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $24,336/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $97,344 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $69,952 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $21,592/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $27,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 4.5 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $334,496 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Wabash College's own numbers. Net price $24,336 × 4 years = $97,344 total. Median earnings $69,952 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $21,592 a year of premium. $97,344 ÷ $21,592 = 4.5 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $334,496. 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 Wabash College students graduate with?
A median $27,000 in federal loans among completers, or 39% of the $69,952 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Wabash College students graduate?
77% finish their degree. Spread the $97,344 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $126,421 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Wabash College expensive compared with other Indiana colleges?
Its $24,336 net price runs $4,639 above the $19,698 median across the 56 Indiana colleges we profile, or $18,554 more across the full degree.