Baker College
Owosso, Michigan · Private Nonprofit · 81.9% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 9/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Baker College earns a 9 ROI score and the Below Benchmark tier rating. The fundamentals are difficult across the board: average six-year earnings of $27,600 climbing to a median of just $35,833 by year ten produce a near-zero 1.6 percent earnings premium, and the model flags a 231-year payback period - effectively meaning a typical graduate may never recoup the full cost. Sticker tuition is $13,000 with a net price of $13,157 (slightly above sticker), keeping four-year cost at $52,628. Median debt is $25,000 against earnings producing a 0.906 debt-to-earnings ratio. Completion at 35.8 percent is weak. The 51.6 percent five-year repayment rate is the most damning operational data point: nearly half of borrowers are not making progress on principal. Baker is a workforce-oriented private offering broad program coverage.
How Baker College scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- ROI Score9/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- 6-year graduation rate35.8% - The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our score, since a degree that is not finished rarely pays back.
- Payback period>50 years - In our estimate, the earnings premium over a high school completer is small next to the cost, so the cost may not be recouped within a working career.
Baker College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $13,000/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $13,000/yr |
| Average net price | $13,157/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $52,628 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $35,833 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $27,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $265 |
| Estimated payback period | >50 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 35.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 3,026 |
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: $13,000/year, which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $13,157/year, or roughly $52,628 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 $11,976/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $17,964/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $25,000, which works out to about $265 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($27,600) and comes to 0.91, 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 | $11,976 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $11,362 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $12,546 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $13,754 |
| $110,001+ | $17,964 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Lowest-income families pay $11,976 net annually - with the $30,001-$48,000 bracket actually paying slightly less at $11,362, a mild inversion. Roughly $48,000 over four years for Pell-eligible students against $27K six-year earnings is still a significant debt-to-earnings risk that the high-D/F ROI grades on most majors do not soften. Maximum federal aid is essential.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income brackets pay $11,362 ($30K-$48K), $12,546 ($48K-$75K), and $13,754 ($75K-$110K) - a smooth and modest progression.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income families pay $17,964 net annually - a noticeable jump and roughly $72K over four years. Median 10-year earnings are $35,833 and the payback period is flagged at 231 years.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Baker College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $77,840 | C |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $65,591 | C |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $51,868 | D |
| Psychology | $46,049 | F |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $58,921 | F |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $45,610 | F |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration | $79,805 | C |
| Human Resources Management | $61,954 | D |
| Accounting | $63,286 | D |
| Computer Science | $80,179 | C |
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.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing is Baker's largest program with 140 graduates, posting first-year earnings of $69,067 climbing to $77,840 by year four - the strongest program-level earnings on campus. However, median debt of $45,086 is unusually heavy and produces a 0.653 debt-to-earnings ratio and only a C ROI grade. The strong earnings are partially offset by high program-level debt; nursing here is a positive ROI choice.
Computer Science
Computer Science graduates 18 students with $67,839 first-year and $80,179 four-year earnings - strong absolute outcomes. Median debt of $38,134 yields a 0.562 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C ROI grade. The high program debt drags an otherwise solid program; students should aggressively minimize borrowing and target placement into Michigan's tech and automotive software sectors.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is Baker's second-largest program at 130 graduates, with $55,372 first-year and $65,591 four-year earnings. Median debt of $35,710 produces a 0.645 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C ROI grade. Career paths flow into Michigan small and mid-sized employers.
Psychology
Psychology graduates 45 students with $32,913 first-year and $46,049 four-year earnings against median debt of $41,688 - producing a 1.267 debt-to-earnings ratio and an F ROI grade. This is among the worst risk profiles on campus. Without an explicit graduate-school plan, this is a financially precarious choice.
Health and Medical Administrative Services
Health Administration graduates 55 students with $40,114 first-year and $51,868 four-year earnings. Median debt of $39,444 yields a 0.983 debt-to-earnings ratio and a D ROI grade. Career paths in hospital and clinic administration are real but the high debt load against modest earnings makes this a tough financial proposition.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 45.4% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 51.6% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 35.8% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 40.1% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Baker 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 | 81.9% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 460-560 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 500-600 |
| Enrollment | 3,026 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 37.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,382 |
Baker College admits 81.9 percent of applicants - broadly accessible. SAT mid-50 percent ranges run 460-560 in Math and 500-600 in Reading; ACT data is not reported. The 35.8 percent completion rate is significantly weaker than the admission rate would suggest, reflecting the challenges of serving a working-adult population balancing employment and study. Prospective students should walk in with a clear graduation plan and budget for the time it takes to complete.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baker College (this school) | 9 | $13,157 | $35,833 |
| Colorado Technical University-Colorado Springs | 9 | $16,745 | $37,180 |
| Strayer University-Georgia | 9 | $18,318 | $40,092 |
| Strayer University-South Carolina | 9 | $17,979 | $40,092 |
| South University-Columbia | 8 | $27,693 | $34,421 |
| South University-Tampa | 8 | $20,434 | $34,421 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See Baker College side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
Baker College fits adult learners and career-changers in Michigan seeking workforce-applied degrees - particularly in nursing, IT, and business administration. Enrollment is 3,026 undergraduates and Pell rate runs 37.7 percent, indicating significant working-class representation. Strongest student outcomes flow from the nursing and computer-science pipelines; outside those, the data are concerning. Students choosing Baker should narrow program selection sharply, plan for completion realistically, and treat the offering as a credentialing path rather than a traditional college experience.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, Baker College scores 9/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $13,157 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $35,833 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at more than 50 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, its 35.8% graduation rate, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.91 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 51.6% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $25,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $27,600 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.91. 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.
Baker College: Common Questions
Is Baker College worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. Baker College scores 9/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $13,157 a year after aid against $35,833 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at more than 50 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does Baker 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 $13,157 a year, or roughly $52,628 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 Baker College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $35,833 ten years after enrolling, at or below the $41,800 median for high-school graduates (NCES, 2022). With little earnings gap to cover the cost, the financial return is hard to make.
How long does it take to pay off Baker 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 more than 50 years for Baker College. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Baker College graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,000, against average earnings of $27,600 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.91. 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 Baker College?
The six-year graduation rate is 35.8%. 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.