Taylor University vs Earlham College: which has better ROI?
Taylor University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $99,460 in 25.9 years versus 40.6 years at Earlham College, on median earnings of $52,198 vs $50,797 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Taylor University | Earlham College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,865 | $24,714 |
| Total net cost | $99,460 | $98,856 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $52,198 | $50,797 |
| Median debt | $20,500 | $23,488 |
| Payback | 25.9 yrs | 40.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$22,700 | -$50,116 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Taylor University or Earlham College?
Earlham College, at $24,714 a year after aid versus $24,865 — a gap of $151 a year, or $604 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Taylor University or Earlham College graduates earn more?
Taylor University graduates report a median $52,198 ten years after entry, $1,401 more than the $50,797 at Earlham College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Taylor University or Earlham College?
Taylor University: its completers carry a median $20,500 in federal loans versus $23,488 at Earlham College, a difference of $2,988. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
74% of students finish at Taylor University, against 69% at Earlham College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.