Adrian College
Adrian, Michigan · Private Nonprofit · 72.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 39/100 · Poor Value
Adrian College earns a 39/100 Poor Value ROI score, landing in the red tier despite some reasonably competitive underlying numbers. The school's $41,684 tuition discounts to a $25,368 net price (a 39% institutional discount), and the 11.8-year payback period and 75.6% three-year repayment rate are mid-tier respectable. But the 48.4% completion rate and 0.794 debt-to-earnings ratio (16/100 sub-score) drag the score down: roughly half of enrolling students don't graduate, and those who do face $27,000 in median debt against $34,000 in 6-year earnings (rising to $55,504 by year 10). The four-year total cost of $101,472 is steep for a regional Michigan liberal arts college. Earnings premium of 0.202 over high-school baseline shows graduates do earn more, but not enough to make the debt math comfortable. The 1,604-student campus and 30.8% Pell rate place Adrian in the small-private-nonprofit category with stronger-than-average completion among that segment, but still well below the 70%+ rates seen at peer institutions like Albion or Alma. Major selection matters here: biology, accounting, and marketing produce workable outcomes; kinesiology and criminal justice do not.
The data raises concerns about Adrian College
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score39/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
Adrian College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $41,684/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $41,684/yr |
| Average net price | $25,368/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $101,472 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $55,504 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $34,000 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 11.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 48.4% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,604 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Adrian College is $41,684/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $25,368/year, or roughly $101,472 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $19,542/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $28,652/year.
The median graduate leaves with $27,000 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $286 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $55,504 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.79 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $19,542 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $21,571 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $24,162 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $27,166 |
| $110,001+ | $28,652 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $19,542 net, or about $78,168 over four years. The lowest-income bracket gets meaningful institutional discounting, with Pell layering further reducing cash debt. The $19,542 against $34,000 6-year earnings is still tough, but workable for completers in higher-earning majors. The 48.4% completion rate is the main risk factor at this income tier.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Households earning $48,001-$75,000 pay $24,162 net and $75,001-$110,000 pay $27,166. Middle-income families face $96,648 to $108,664 over four years against $55,504 in 10-year earnings. Workable in business or accounting; questionable in education or kinesiology. Michigan public alternatives (Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan, Western Michigan) are 30-40% cheaper for similar outcomes.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $28,652 net, or about $114,608 over four years. Full-pay families should benchmark against UMich-Flint, MSU, or Western Michigan, all of which produce stronger outcomes at lower cost. Adrian at this tier is a fit decision (small college, athletics, Methodist tradition) rather than an economic one.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Adrian College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $51,559 | D |
| Biology | $63,816 | B |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $48,453 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $69,654 | C |
| Marketing | $66,808 | C |
| Accounting | $77,588 | - |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $54,077 | D |
| Social Work | $54,277 | C+ |
| Natural Resources Conservation | $52,176 | - |
| Communication and Media Studies | $52,309 | - |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology is Adrian's largest program with 56 graduates but produces a D ROI grade: $36,808 first-year earnings, $51,559 four-year, $27,000 debt and a 0.734 debt-to-earnings ratio. The major typically funnels to graduate PT/OT/athletic training programs, but starting that path $27,000 in undergrad debt at a school with sub-50% completion is risky. Students using this as a pre-grad track should keep debt minimal.
Biology
Biology is Adrian's strongest reported ROI: 30 graduates, $63,816 four-year earnings, $27,000 debt, 0.423 debt-to-earnings ratio, B grade. Strong outcome reflects pre-med, pre-PA, and pre-grad-school pipelines absorbing Adrian biology graduates well. Pre-health students considering Adrian get a legitimately defensible economic path here, though Michigan publics produce comparable outcomes at lower cost.
Teacher Education, Subject-Specific
Teacher Ed graduates 30 students with $42,118 first-year, $48,453 four-year earnings against $30,994 debt for a 0.736 debt-to-earnings ratio and D grade. Michigan teacher demand absorbs graduates, but starting a teaching career $30,994 in debt against capped public-school wages is painful. Michigan public teacher-prep programs (EMU, CMU, GVSU) produce identical employment outcomes at much lower debt.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Admin produces 28 graduates with $41,129 first-year and a strong $69,654 four-year earnings figure against $27,000 debt for a 0.656 debt-to-earnings ratio and C grade. Solid mainstream choice with notable earnings growth between years 1 and 4. The C grade understates the trajectory; this is one of Adrian's better defensible undergrad investments.
Accounting
Accounting has 13 graduates with $77,588 four-year earnings (highest of any reported program) but no reported debt or ROI grade because the borrower sample doesn't meet reporting thresholds. Strong earnings reflect CPA-track placement at regional firms. Adrian accounting graduates likely outperform the schoolwide debt-to-earnings ratio significantly; among defensible majors at this school, accounting tops the list.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 72.4% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 75.6% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 72.4% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 74.6% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 72.5% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 430-560 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 443-580 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 21-27 |
| Enrollment | 1,604 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 30.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,614 |
Adrian admits 72.5% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 430-560 math and 443-580 reading, and ACT mid-range 21-27. These ranges signal modest selectivity centered on average-to-slightly-above-average Michigan students. The 48.4% completion rate aligns with this profile: prepared students with stronger test scores complete at substantially higher rates than the schoolwide average, while students at the bottom of the ACT range face real attrition risk. The selectivity is real but not screening hard.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Albion and Alma Colleges are Adrian's closest demographic peers (Michigan small private liberal arts) and typically score in the higher Below Average to Average ROI range, anchored by stronger completion rates (60-75%) and similar earnings outcomes. Caldwell University and Felician University are East Coast small-private-nonprofit comparables with similar Poor Value scores. Springfield College is a slightly larger, more athletics-driven peer. Across this set, Adrian's earnings outcomes are competitive, but its 48.4% completion rate is the chief drag pulling the score below Albion and Alma.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adrian College (this school) | 39 | $25,368 | $55,504 |
| Albion College | 65 | $14,301 | $58,799 |
| Alma College | 50 | $20,694 | $54,742 |
| Caldwell University | 40 | $24,691 | $53,843 |
| Felician University | 40 | $40,045 | $57,602 |
| Springfield College | 36 | $30,587 | $48,036 |
Who Thrives Here
Adrian fits Michigan residents drawn to a small-college experience, willing to absorb $25,368 in annual net price, and committed to a higher-earning major (accounting, biology, business, marketing). With 1,604 students and 30.8% Pell, the campus is intimate but not as heavily need-served as some peers. The school has a strong athletics-and-extracurriculars culture that attracts students prioritizing fit over flagship reputation. Students considering Kinesiology (the largest major at 56 graduates) should run that program's math carefully: a D grade and 0.734 debt-to-earnings ratio make it tough as a terminal degree.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Adrian College. With a net cost of $25,368 per year and median graduate earnings of only $55,504 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 11.8 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 48.4% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn.
Median debt of $27,000 against $55,504 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.