Franklin and Marshall College
Lancaster, Pennsylvania · Private Nonprofit · 28.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 81/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Franklin and Marshall College scores 81 (Strong Value) on the CampusROI scale - a high result for a selective liberal arts college. The 6.9-year payback period, 83.8% completion rate, and 89.8% repayment rate define strong institutional fundamentals. Average 6-year earnings of $49,200 and median 10-year earnings of $76,124 show solid upward trajectory. Net price of $36,425 is substantial, but the sticker-to-net gap on a $70,794 tuition is meaningful, especially for lower-income brackets. Business Administration is the strongest program (62 graduates, $64,664 year-one, $101,895 year-four, B+ grade). Economics earns a B grade (41 graduates, $52,801 year-one, $90,368 year-four). International Relations earns a B grade (41 graduates, $45,928 year-one, $74,822 year-four). Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies is the largest program (92 graduates, C+ grade) - capturing the self-designed curriculum students that characterize liberal arts colleges. Median debt is low at $19,000, and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.386 earns a high subscore. F&M is a selective liberal arts college in Lancaster, PA with strong pre-professional placement and a reputation for graduate school preparation.
Franklin and Marshall College scores in the top 13% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
Franklin and Marshall College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $70,794/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $70,794/yr |
| Average net price | $36,425/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $145,700 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $76,124 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $49,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $19,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $201 |
| Estimated payback period | 6.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 83.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,799 |
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: $70,794/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $36,425/year, or roughly $145,700 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 $12,321/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $49,996/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $19,000, which works out to about $201 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($49,200) and comes to 0.39, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
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 | $12,321 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $16,942 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $16,245 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $25,104 |
| $110,001+ | $49,996 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
F&M's need-based aid commitment is real and meaningful for admitted low-income students. The 15.8% Pell rate reflects a gap between the aid commitment and actual lower-income enrollment - families in this bracket who are admitted benefit enormously.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families pay $16,245 (48001-75000) and $25,104 (75001-110000) per year. The step from $16k to $25k at the upper-middle bracket is a significant jump. Total 4-year costs between $65,000 and $100,000 are more manageable than the $70,794 sticker implies. For students entering business or economics, these costs pay back within the 6.9-year institutional payback period.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $49,996 per year - approximately $200,000 over four years. At full-pay, F&M is a significant investment. However, median debt of $19,000 against $49,200 average 6-year earnings and a 6.9-year payback is financially coherent even at this price - largely because many full-pay students borrow little. The business and economics four-year earnings of $90,000-$100,000 close the investment gap for students entering high-earning tracks. Full-pay families should model their student's likely program and career path rather than the aggregate.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Franklin and Marshall College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $74,099 | C+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $101,895 | B+ |
| Behavioral Sciences | $38,391 | C+ |
| Economics | $90,368 | B |
| International Relations | $74,822 | B |
| Public Health | $75,867 | C+ |
| Biology | $37,950 | C+ |
| Sociology | $63,251 | C |
| Natural Resources Conservation | $36,536 | C |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $33,476 | 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.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
62 graduates, $64,664 year-one, $101,895 year-four, ROI grade B+ with debt-to-earnings 0.302 and median debt $19,500. Business at F&M earns a B+ - the strongest grade at the institution. Year-one of $64k and year-four of $101k reflect the finance, consulting, and corporate management pipeline that a selective liberal arts college in the mid-Atlantic can develop. The F&M network and academic preparation produce career outcomes above what a regional school with a similar enrollment would generate.
Economics
41 graduates, $52,801 year-one, $90,368 year-four, ROI grade B with debt-to-earnings 0.437 and median debt $23,048. Economics earns a B grade with a strong four-year trajectory from $52k to $90k - consistent with career advancement into finance, consulting, and policy analysis. At a selective liberal arts college, economics graduates leverage analytical training and the institutional network to access employers in Philadelphia, New York, and DC. The year-four figure reflects this career progression over the first four years post-graduation.
International Relations
41 graduates, $45,928 year-one, $74,822 year-four, ROI grade B with debt-to-earnings 0.414 and median debt $19,000. International relations earns a B grade with a trajectory from $45k to $74k. F&M's international relations program feeds graduates into government agencies, international organizations, consulting, and graduate programs in international affairs. The four-year earnings figure reflects the combination of government service, NGO work, and private sector careers that IR graduates pursue.
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
92 graduates - the largest program - $43,593 year-one, $74,099 year-four, ROI grade C+ with debt-to-earnings 0.456 and median debt $19,875. This designation captures F&M's signature self-designed and interdisciplinary programs, which are a distinctive feature of the liberal arts model. Year-four earnings of $74k for a self-designed curriculum cohort is strong - reflecting student agency in program design and F&M's overall career placement infrastructure. The C+ grade reflects diverse career paths that produce varied near-term earnings.
Public Health
36 graduates, $43,134 year-one, $75,867 year-four, ROI grade C+ with debt-to-earnings 0.484 and median debt $20,875. Public health earns a C+ with a year-four figure of $75k suggesting strong trajectory for graduates who enter healthcare administration, public health agencies, or pursue graduate education in public health or medicine. Year-one earnings are suppressed by post-baccalaureate enrollment and entry-level public health positions. The four-year jump reflects career progression and advanced degree completion.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 88.3% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 89.8% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 91.0% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 92.4% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Franklin and Marshall 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 | 28.2% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 650-733 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 660-730 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 30-33 |
| Enrollment | 1,799 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 15.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,293 |
F&M's admission rate is 28.2%. SAT Math 650-733 and Reading 660-730 describe a highly prepared academic cohort; ACT 30-33 is the parallel. F&M's admissions process emphasizes academic achievement and intellectual engagement in a liberal arts framework. The college is need-aware for most domestic applicants, which means financial need can affect admission at the margin. The $12,321 net price for the lowest income bracket demonstrates a real commitment to affordability for the students who do get in.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin and Marshall College (this school) | 81 | $36,425 | $76,124 |
| Trinity College | 87 | $34,832 | $90,779 |
| Trinity University | 85 | $23,464 | $71,668 |
| Kenyon College | 73 | $38,512 | $71,830 |
| Albright College | 56 | $20,024 | $58,700 |
| Bryn Athyn College of the New Church | 34 | $20,586 | $40,457 |
Who Thrives Here
F&M admits 28.2% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 650-733 Math and 660-730 Reading; ACT composite 30-33. Enrollment is 1,799 - a classic small liberal arts college with individual attention and strong faculty-student ratios. The 15.8% Pell rate is low, reflecting the predominantly middle-to-upper-income student body. F&M attracts students interested in the liberal arts, pre-professional preparation, and graduate school pathways. The college has historically strong placement into medical and law schools. Lancaster, PA provides a small city context without direct metro-area labor market access; most graduates relocate to Philadelphia, New York, or DC for careers.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, Franklin and Marshall College pays off. You'd pay about $36,425 a year after aid ($145,700 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $76,124 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 6.9 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: its 83.8% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $19,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $49,200 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Franklin and Marshall College: Common Questions
Is Franklin and Marshall College worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Franklin and Marshall College pays off. It scores 81/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $36,425 a year after aid ($145,700 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $76,124 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 6.9 years to earn back.
How much does Franklin and Marshall 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 $36,425 a year, or roughly $145,700 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 Franklin and Marshall College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $76,124 ten years after enrolling, roughly $34,324 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 Franklin and Marshall 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 6.9 years for Franklin and Marshall College. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Franklin and Marshall College graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $19,000, against average earnings of $49,200 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Franklin and Marshall College?
The six-year graduation rate is 83.8%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (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.