Edgewood College
Madison, Wisconsin · Private Nonprofit · 75.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 58/100 · Below Average Value
Edgewood College scores 58 (Below Average Value) on the CampusROI scale -- a composite of a 9.9-year payback period, 60.2% completion rate, and median 6-year earnings of $41,500. Net price of $26,113 against a $35,860 private sticker tuition reflects moderate aid. The strongest program by outcome is Registered Nursing (108 graduates, $73,249 year-one, ROI grade B), which anchors the institution's best ROI case. Business Administration Management (1 graduate, $96,101 four-year) has a strong data point but near-zero volume. Biology earns a C grade (25 graduates, $51,134 year-one). Teacher Education earns a C grade (16 graduates). Communication and Media Studies posts a C+ (14 graduates, $54,257 four-year). Psychology is the weakest tracked program (D grade, 18 graduates). The 81.3% repayment rate is one of the stronger signals here -- borrowers are generally keeping up with debt, which suggests the completion cohort is doing adequately. Median 10-year earnings of $59,728 show reasonable long-run appreciation. Edgewood is a small Dominican-heritage college in Madison, Wisconsin -- a mid-sized state capital with healthcare, government, and university-adjacent employment. Students who complete nursing or business have reasonable local outcomes; the aggregate ROI is dragged by lower-earning programs and an imperfect completion rate.
Edgewood College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $35,860/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $35,860/yr |
| Average net price | $26,113/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $104,452 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $59,728 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $41,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,424 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $259 |
| Estimated payback period | 9.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 60.2% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,107 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Edgewood College is $35,860/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $26,113/year, or roughly $104,452 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $22,291/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $30,913/year.
The median graduate leaves with $24,424 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $259 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $59,728 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.59 - 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 | $22,291 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $19,089 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $22,573 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $23,493 |
| $110,001+ | $30,913 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning $0-30,000 pay $22,291 per year at Edgewood -- moderately high for a lower-income family at a small private institution. Grants and aid reduce the sticker price meaningfully, but the $22,291 figure still implies significant borrowing for Pell-eligible students. Students in the lowest income bracket should evaluate whether nursing program completion is realistic for them given financial pressure and whether public alternatives with lower net prices are available.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $22,573, close to the low-income rate. The 75001-110000 bracket pays $23,493. Across these two tiers, net price is relatively flat, which is a sign that Edgewood's aid formula does not differentiate much across middle-income bands. Total 4-year costs for middle-income families approximate $90,000-$94,000 -- meaningful but manageable for nursing completers with year-one earnings above $73,000.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $30,913 per year, the highest net price across income bands -- approximately $124,000 over four years. At $41,500 median 6-year earnings and a 9.9-year payback period, the full-pay investment requires students to enter nursing or higher-earning fields to produce a reasonable return. Students who pay full near-price and enter lower-earning programs like psychology or communication face a financial case that does not close well on Scorecard data.
Earnings by Major
Top 9 most popular majors at Edgewood College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $79,577 | B |
| Business Administration and Management | $64,738 | C |
| Biology | $69,355 | C |
| Psychology | $49,536 | D |
| Teacher Education | $48,946 | C |
| Communication and Media Studies | $54,257 | C+ |
| Education, Other | $48,936 | - |
| Design and Applied Arts | $44,540 | - |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $96,101 | - |
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
Nursing is the strongest program at Edgewood and the clearest ROI case: 108 graduates, $73,249 year-one, $79,577 year-four, ROI grade B with debt-to-earnings 0.369 and median debt $27,000. Year-one earnings of $73k reflect the strong Wisconsin nursing labor market and healthcare system demand in Madison. The B grade indicates solid outcomes with manageable debt. Students who complete nursing at Edgewood enter a career with defined salary floors and high regional demand.
Biology
25 graduates, $51,134 year-one, $69,355 year-four, ROI grade C with debt-to-earnings 0.567 and median debt $29,000. Year-one earnings of $51k are above Edgewood's aggregate median and suggest biology graduates are entering research, healthcare, or graduate programs with initial earnings in professional-track roles. The C grade reflects adequate outcomes -- debt is manageable, earnings are moderate. Biology students on pre-health tracks may see better long-run outcomes than Scorecard data captures.
Business Administration and Management
39 graduates, $45,413 year-one, $64,738 year-four, ROI grade C with debt-to-earnings 0.595 and median debt $27,000. A standard small-private-college business outcome: adequate starting earnings, reasonable four-year growth. The C grade reflects a common pattern where private college tuition costs slightly outrun business program earnings compared to public alternatives. Madison's state government, healthcare, and tech sectors provide employment options for business graduates.
Teacher Education
16 graduates, $46,458 year-one, $48,946 year-four, ROI grade C with debt-to-earnings 0.581 and median debt $27,000. The flat year-one to four-year trajectory reflects teacher salary structures in Wisconsin -- public school salaries are governed by collective bargaining and experience steps that limit near-term wage growth. The C grade is typical for teacher education programs nationally. Students who enter public school teaching accept below-market starting wages in exchange for job security and benefits.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 78.5% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 81.3% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 77.5% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 82.6% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 75.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,107 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 25.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,213 |
Edgewood's 75.7% admission rate indicates accessible but not open enrollment. No test score data is reported, suggesting the institution does not require standardized tests or does not publish ranges. The 60.2% completion rate is the more important number for prospective students: roughly four in ten who enroll do not finish. Students should ask directly about retention programming, advising resources, and average time to degree before enrolling.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Edgewood's Scorecard peers include Alverno, Bellin College, Albright, Walla Walla, and Oklahoma City University. Bellin College is a noteworthy comparable -- a nursing-focused institution with very strong nursing ROI. Edgewood's ROI score of 58 is mid-pack among small private Catholic and faith-affiliated institutions. Alverno (a women's college in Milwaukee) has similar scale and mission. Among Wisconsin private colleges, Edgewood competes with Carthage, Carroll University, and Viterbo -- institutions with comparable ROI profiles and similar regional labor market access.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edgewood College (this school) | 58 | $26,113 | $59,728 |
| Bellin College | 72 | $37,408 | $76,222 |
| Walla Walla University | 62 | $23,329 | $61,885 |
| Oklahoma City University | 58 | $22,857 | $54,655 |
| Albright College | 56 | $20,024 | $58,700 |
| Alverno College | 39 | $22,540 | $53,145 |
Who Thrives Here
Edgewood admits 75.7% of applicants with no test score ranges reported. Enrollment is 1,107 -- a very small private college with Dominican mission and close faculty-student ratios. Pell grant rate of 25.8% indicates a moderate share of lower-income students. The institution serves students who want a faith-connected, personal-scale education in Madison. Nursing is the primary pipeline to strong outcomes; students in other fields will find adequate but unexceptional career preparation. The Madison location provides healthcare system employment (UnityPoint, UW Health) that benefits nursing and allied health students.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The financial case for Edgewood College is mixed. At $26,113 per year net cost, graduates earn a median of $59,728 ten years after entry - a payback period of 9.9 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.
Median debt of $24,424 against $59,728 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.