Albion College
Albion, Michigan · Private Nonprofit · 80.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 65/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Albion College earns a 65 ROI score and a Fair Value tier rating. Sticker tuition is a steep $56,950 but Albion's net price drops dramatically to $14,301 - a 75 percent discount that pushes four-year cost to just $57,204. Average earnings six years out are $37,600, climbing impressively to a median $58,799 by year ten - producing a 41.6 percent earnings premium and an 8.3-year payback period (a 73 sub-score). The 79.7 percent five-year repayment rate is strong (70 sub-score). The notable weakness is a 0.718 debt-to-earnings ratio - median debt of $27,000 against $37,600 early-career earnings is heavy, contributing to the low debt sub-score (25). Strong accounting and finance programs anchor the portfolio. Albion is a credible Midwestern liberal arts value once aid is factored in.
Albion College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $56,950/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $56,950/yr |
| Average net price | $14,301/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $57,204 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $58,799 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $37,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 8.3 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 61.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,300 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $56,950/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $14,301/year, or roughly $57,204 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $10,036/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $24,368/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $27,000, which works out to about $286 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($37,600) and comes to 0.72, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
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 | $10,036 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $9,772 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $12,085 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $16,656 |
| $110,001+ | $24,368 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Lowest-income families pay $10,036 net annually - with the $30,001-$48,000 bracket actually paying slightly less at $9,772, a mild inversion. Roughly $40,000 over four years for Pell-eligible students is workable against $37K-$59K career earnings.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income brackets pay $9,772 ($30K-$48K) - the cheapest band on campus - $12,085 ($48K-$75K), and $16,656 ($75K-$110K).
Higher-income families ($110K+)
With median 10-year earnings of $58,799 and accounting/finance graduates earning meaningfully above that median, the math works for full-pay families whose students enter strong programs.
Earnings by Major
Top 9 most popular majors at Albion College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | $61,092 | F |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $49,451 | D |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $23,906 | F |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $53,210 | C |
| Economics | $66,048 | C |
| Finance and Financial Management | $81,887 | B |
| Communication and Media Studies | $54,300 | C |
| International Relations | $39,066 | C |
| Accounting | $78,221 | B |
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.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance is one of Albion's flagship-earnings programs with 16 graduates, posting first-year earnings of $59,926 climbing to $81,887 by year four. Median debt of $24,979 produces a 0.417 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B ROI grade. Career paths flow into Detroit-area corporate finance, Michigan banking, and broader Midwestern financial services employers. This is the program where Albion's value proposition is clearest.
Accounting
Accounting graduates 10 students with $62,266 first-year and $78,221 four-year earnings - exceptional outcomes for a small liberal arts college. Median debt of $27,000 produces a 0.434 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B ROI grade. The path to CPA licensure plus access to Detroit-metro public accounting firms drives strong placement.
Economics
Economics graduates 17 students with $48,756 first-year and $66,048 four-year earnings. Median debt of $27,000 produces a 0.554 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C ROI grade. Career paths blend financial-services, consulting, and graduate-school pipelines. Outcomes are solid but not standout.
Biology
Biology graduates 35 students - one of Albion's larger cohorts - with weak first-year earnings of $20,713 climbing to $61,092 by year four. The four-year trajectory is strong but median debt of $23,250 against $20,713 first-year earnings produces a 1.122 debt-to-earnings ratio and an F ROI grade. The pattern reflects students delaying earnings to attend medical, dental, or graduate school. Students entering biology should plan their full education trajectory and budget for the gap years.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology graduates 31 students with $30,314 first-year and $49,451 four-year earnings against median debt of $27,000 - producing a 0.891 debt-to-earnings ratio and a D ROI grade. Most strong career paths in this field require graduate study (PT, OT, athletic training); the bachelor's is best treated as a stepping-stone.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 77.4% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 79.7% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 83.2% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 86.2% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Albion College’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 80.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,300 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 47.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,469 |
Albion admits 80.7 percent of applicants - broadly accessible. SAT and ACT mid-50 percent ranges are not reported in current Scorecard data, suggesting the college has moved to a test-optional or test-blind admissions policy.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Albion's ROI score is 65.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albion College (this school) | 65 | $14,301 | $58,799 |
| Westmont College | 65 | $29,053 | $64,778 |
| AdventHealth University | 63 | $30,135 | $72,282 |
| Walla Walla University | 62 | $23,329 | $61,885 |
| Alma College | 50 | $20,694 | $54,742 |
| Adrian College | 39 | $25,368 | $55,504 |
Who Thrives Here
Albion fits Michigan and surrounding-state students seeking a small Midwestern residential liberal arts college with strong business and pre-professional pipelines. Enrollment is small at 1,300 undergraduates and Pell rate runs 47.5 percent, reflecting Albion's commitment to socioeconomic accessibility. Strongest student outcomes accrue to accounting and finance graduates (B grades) along with economics. Students entering the natural sciences should plan for graduate school given soft early-career earnings in those fields.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Albion College is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $14,301 a year after aid ($57,204 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $58,799 a decade out, the cost takes about 8.3 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates. What to keep an eye on: a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.72 (median across the schools we score: 0.61).
Median debt of $27,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $37,600 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.72. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Albion College: Common Questions
Is Albion College worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Albion College is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 65/100 on our ROI scale. At $14,301 a year after aid ($57,204 over four years) against $58,799 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 8.3 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Albion College cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $14,301 a year, or roughly $57,204 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Albion College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $58,799 ten years after enrolling, roughly $16,999 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Albion College?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 8.3 years for Albion College. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Albion College graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $27,000, against average earnings of $37,600 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.72. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Albion College?
The six-year graduation rate is 61.6%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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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.