Benedictine College
Atchison, Kansas · Private Nonprofit · 98.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 45/100 · Below Average Value
Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas scores ROI 45 (Below Average Value) -- a small Benedictine Catholic liberal arts school with 2,272 undergraduates in a rural Kansas town near the Missouri border. The school's profile is unusual: a repayment rate of 89.1% (the highest in this analysis) signals that graduates reliably service their debt, yet the overall ROI score of 45 reflects low earnings ($35,500 median 6-year earnings), a 13.8-year payback, and a 61.6% completion rate. The apparent contradiction is explained by the school's Catholic mission-oriented culture -- graduates who are motivated by service, ministry, and community rather than salary tend to manage modest debt loads without defaulting even at low earnings. Finance (38 graduates, C+ ROI grade), Registered Nursing (31 graduates, B+ ROI grade), and Accounting (13 graduates, B ROI grade) are the clearest earnings anchors. Theology and ministry programs produce the largest graduate cohort in Theological and Ministerial Studies (51 graduates, D grade).
Benedictine College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $36,350/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $36,350/yr |
| Average net price | $27,891/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $111,564 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $53,175 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $35,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,599 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $261 |
| Estimated payback period | 13.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 61.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,272 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Benedictine College is $36,350/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $27,891/year, or roughly $111,564 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $22,032/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $30,832/year.
The median graduate leaves with $24,599 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $261 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $53,175 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.69 - 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 | $22,032 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $22,678 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $21,893 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $27,231 |
| $110,001+ | $30,832 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $22,032 per year -- the highest low-income net price among the small Catholic schools in this analysis. Over four years that is roughly $88,128. Benedictine is not an affordable school for low-income families in pure dollar terms. The school's limited low-income enrollment (18.8% Pell) reflects this pricing reality.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 30,001-48,000 bracket pays $22,678 -- higher than the lowest bracket, which is atypical. The 48,001-75,000 bracket drops to $21,893, and the 75,001-110,000 bracket rises to $27,231. The irregular slope suggests aid cutoffs at specific income thresholds. Middle-income families across the range pay $21,893-$27,231, with minimal variation until the upper band.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $30,832 per year. Over four years that is roughly $123,328. Against median 10-year earnings of $53,175, high-income families evaluating Benedictine are making a values-based choice. The ROI data does not justify the cost on financial grounds for most non-nursing, non-finance majors.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Benedictine College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Theological and Ministerial Studies | $36,829 | D |
| Finance and Financial Management | $72,769 | C+ |
| Teacher Education | $44,163 | C+ |
| Registered Nursing | $66,204 | B+ |
| Psychology | $28,149 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $79,184 | C |
| Marketing | $63,361 | C |
| Mechanical Engineering | $71,539 | - |
| Accounting | $58,320 | B |
| Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other | $30,238 | D |
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 produces 38 graduates per year -- Benedictine's largest career-oriented program. Median 1-year earnings of $58,821 and 4-year earnings of $72,769 track financial services and corporate finance roles in Kansas City (45 miles south) and the broader Midwest. The 0.458 debt-to-earnings ratio (ROI grade C+) with $26,959 median debt is functional. Finance is the most economically defensible path at Benedictine for students who want the Catholic liberal arts environment without committing to ministry careers. Kansas City's financial sector provides a real employment destination.
Registered Nursing
Nursing produces 31 graduates per year with median 1-year earnings of $66,204 -- 4-year earnings not reported. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.336 (ROI grade B+) with $22,223 median debt is well-controlled. Kansas's regional hospital systems and the Kansas City metropolitan health market create consistent RN demand. At Benedictine's pricing ($27,891 average net price), nursing is the most clear positive-ROI pathway. The relatively small cohort of 31 graduates maintains program quality control.
Theological and Ministerial Studies
Theological and Ministerial Studies is Benedictine's second-largest program by graduate count at 51 students per year. Median 1-year earnings of $32,202 and 4-year earnings of $36,829 reflect the reality of ministry and religious education careers, which historically pay below secular professional benchmarks. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.722 (ROI grade D) confirms the financial strain. Students entering this program do so with full awareness that financial return is not the goal -- the school's 89.1% repayment rate suggests theology graduates find ways to manage their loans despite modest incomes. This is a vocational choice, not an economic one.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 85.6% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 89.1% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 81.5% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 81.0% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 98.1% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 570-690 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 570-690 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 22-29 |
| Enrollment | 2,272 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 18.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,331 |
Benedictine admits 98.1% of applicants -- near-open enrollment for an institution with a SAT range of 570-690. The high SAT/ACT scores combined with near-open admission reflect ecclesiastical or recommendation-based filtering rather than academic selectivity: most students who align with Benedictine's Catholic identity are admitted. Students should understand that high test scores at Benedictine signal peer quality without selective filtering.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Benedictine (ROI 45) sits above Bethany College KS (ROI 31, earn6yr $32,100, payback 17.1 yr) and comparable to Bob Jones University (ROI 47, earn6yr $31,200) in its peer set. Baker University (ROI 65, earn6yr $48,500) significantly outperforms Benedictine on both earnings and ROI score. The 89.1% repayment rate is Benedictine's most distinctive peer comparison data point -- far above Baker (not available), Bethany KS, and Bob Jones, suggesting Benedictine's Catholic culture instills debt responsibility that is unusual for schools at this earnings level.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benedictine College (this school) | 45 | $27,891 | $53,175 |
| Baker University | 65 | $25,301 | $63,855 |
| Bob Jones University | 47 | $16,641 | $44,354 |
| St. Thomas University | 45 | $26,312 | $54,272 |
| University of Mary Hardin-Baylor | 43 | $26,106 | $56,132 |
| Bethany College | 31 | $27,686 | $49,694 |
Who Thrives Here
Benedictine fits strongly Catholic students who want a traditional liberal arts education at a mission-driven Benedictine campus. ACT 22-29; SAT Math 570-690, Reading 570-690 -- a higher academic profile than many schools at this ROI tier, which reflects Benedictine's selective faith-based culture despite the 98.1% admission rate. With only 18.8% Pell recipients, this is a predominantly middle-to-upper-income Catholic student body. The 89.1% repayment rate is the defining data point: students leave here willing and able to pay their debts. The school is a poor financial choice for students prioritizing high earnings; it is a considered choice for students prioritizing Catholic intellectual formation and community life.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The financial case for Benedictine College is mixed. At $27,891 per year net cost, graduates earn a median of $53,175 ten years after entry - a payback period of 13.8 years. That's below the average return for four-year institutions, and prospective students should carefully consider whether the investment aligns with their financial goals.
Key strengths include high loan repayment success. However, the data also shows weak earnings relative to cost and high debt relative to what graduates earn and a long payback period.
Median debt of $24,599 against $53,175 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.