Franklin and Marshall College
Lancaster, Pennsylvania · Private Nonprofit · 28.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 81/100 · Strong Value
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. Median 6-year earnings of $49,200 and 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 25% of all schools we track, 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 |
| Median 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 sticker price at Franklin and Marshall College is $70,794/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $36,425/year, or roughly $145,700 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $12,321/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $49,996/year.
The median graduate leaves with $19,000 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $201 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $76,124 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.39 - well within manageable territory.
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)
Families earning $0-30,000 pay $12,321 per year at F&M -- one of the lowest figures for any private institution in this dataset. Total 4-year cost near $49,000 for the lowest-income bracket is genuinely accessible for a selective college with a $70,794 sticker. 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. Families in the middle-income range should use F&M's net price calculator carefully -- the spread between brackets suggests meaningful sensitivity to reported income.
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 median 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 | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 88.3% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 89.8% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 91.0% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 92.4% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
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 |
At 28.2%, F&M is selective but not in the most elite tier. SAT Math 650-733 and Reading 660-730 describe a highly prepared academic cohort; ACT 30-33 is the parallel. For context, this range is roughly equivalent to top-25 liberal arts colleges nationally. 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.
F&M's Scorecard peers include Albright, Trinity College (CT), Kenyon, and Trinity University (TX). Among liberal arts colleges, F&M (ROI 81) competes with Dickinson, Gettysburg, and Muhlenberg in Pennsylvania and with Kenyon and Denison in the Midwest. F&M's advantage relative to this group is the B+ business program, low median debt ($19,000), and strong repayment rate (89.8%). Kenyon and Trinity (CT) are selective liberal arts peers with similar program structures. F&M's Lancaster location is a mild disadvantage relative to Trinity (Hartford) or Wesleyan (Middletown) in terms of metro-area employer access.
| 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
Franklin and Marshall College delivers above-average financial returns for its graduates. At a net cost of $36,425 per year ($145,700 over four years), graduates earn a median of $76,124 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback period at roughly 6.9 years - a solid return on the investment.
The data highlights several strengths: a 83.8% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $19,000 is very manageable against $76,124 in annual earnings - well within the financial advisor rule of thumb that total debt should not exceed first-year salary.
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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.