Goshen College
Goshen, Indiana · Private Nonprofit · 84.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 60/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Goshen College earns a 60 ROI score and a Fair Value tier rating. Sticker tuition is $38,890 with a deeply discounted net price of $14,493 - a remarkable 63 percent aid discount - and four-year cost lands at $57,972. Average earnings six years out are $35,600, climbing to a median $51,943 by year ten - producing a 29 percent earnings premium and an 11.7-year payback period. Median debt of $22,974 against earnings produces a 0.64 debt-to-earnings ratio, which is on the heavy side. The standout: an 88.8 percent repayment rate, reflecting the Mennonite community's strong financial culture and graduate support networks. Completion at 65 percent is solid. Strong nursing outcomes anchor the program portfolio. Goshen is a faith-aligned, value-focused small college whose aid generosity and community structure deliver legitimately competitive ROI.
Goshen College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $38,890/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $38,890/yr |
| Average net price | $14,493/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $57,972 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $51,943 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $35,900 |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,974 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $244 |
| Estimated payback period | 11.7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 65.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 773 |
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: $38,890/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $14,493/year, or roughly $57,972 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 $12,761/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $19,447/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $22,974, which works out to about $244 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($35,900) and comes to 0.64, 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 | $12,761 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $6,947 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $15,163 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $17,413 |
| $110,001+ | $19,447 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Lowest-income families pay $12,761 net annually - with the $30,001-$48,000 bracket at a remarkable $6,947, the lowest net price across all tiers. This is a significantly inverted bracket structure where lower-middle-income students pay roughly half what the lowest-income tier pays. Pell-eligible families should investigate this directly; aid stacking may shift this pattern individually.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income brackets pay $6,947 ($30K-$48K) - the cheapest band on campus - $15,163 ($48K-$75K), and $17,413 ($75K-$110K). The lower-middle tier sees an exceptional aid package; the upper-middle band pays roughly twice as much. Middle-income families considering Goshen should run their specific numbers since the bracket inversion changes the calculus significantly.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income families pay $19,447 net annually, or roughly $78,000 over four years - competitive for a private college. With median 10-year earnings of $51,943, the math works reasonably well for full-pay families, particularly for nursing-bound students. Goshen's full sticker remains accessible to wealthier Mennonite-tradition families.
Earnings by Major
Top 2 most popular majors at Goshen College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $78,185 | B |
| Social Work | $39,176 | - |
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 Goshen's flagship-earnings program with 23 graduates, posting first-year earnings of $71,791 climbing to $78,185 by year four. Median debt of $27,000 produces a 0.376 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B ROI grade. This is the program responsible for much of the school's overall earnings story.
Social Work
Social Work graduates 8 students annually with $39,176 four-year earnings. Debt and ROI grade are not reported due to thin sample size. Most strong career paths in social work require graduate study (MSW, LCSW), so the bachelor's is best treated as a stepping-stone rather than a terminal degree. Goshen's service-and-mission orientation provides a strong cultural fit for students entering this field.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 85.4% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 88.8% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 83.5% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 83.6% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Goshen 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 | 84.1% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 440-560 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 440-550 |
| Enrollment | 773 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 35.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,513 |
Goshen admits 84.1 percent of applicants - broadly accessible. SAT mid-50 percent ranges run 440-560 in Math and 440-550 in Reading; ACT data is not reported, suggesting test-optional admissions are common. The 65 percent completion rate is strong relative to the access profile, a reflection of the close-knit residential Mennonite-tradition community that supports student persistence and graduation.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Goshen's 60 ROI score and 88.8 percent repayment rate are notable strengths.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goshen College (this school) | 60 | $14,493 | $51,943 |
| Samford University | 62 | $32,622 | $58,469 |
| Point Loma Nazarene University | 62 | $38,729 | $63,998 |
| Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion | 62 | $22,866 | $59,986 |
| Cedarville University | 61 | $24,468 | $55,443 |
| Judson University | 58 | $18,558 | $56,313 |
Who Thrives Here
Goshen fits Mennonite-heritage students and others drawn to a small Christian residential campus emphasizing peace, service, and global engagement (Goshen runs a notable required Study-Service Term abroad). Enrollment is small at 773 undergraduates and Pell rate runs 35.8 percent. Strongest student outcomes accrue to nursing graduates, with B-grade ROI. The community-financial-support culture means even modest-earning graduates manage debt well, but students choosing Goshen should plan their major thoughtfully to maximize career outcomes.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Goshen College is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $14,493 a year after aid ($57,972 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $51,943 a decade out, the cost takes about 11.7 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: high loan repayment success. What to keep an eye on: a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.64 (median across the schools we score: 0.61).
Median debt of $22,974 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $35,900 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.64. 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.
Goshen College: Common Questions
Is Goshen College worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Goshen College is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 60/100 on our ROI scale. At $14,493 a year after aid ($57,972 over four years) against $51,943 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 11.7 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Goshen 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 $14,493 a year, or roughly $57,972 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 Goshen College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $51,943 ten years after enrolling, roughly $10,143 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 Goshen 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 11.7 years for Goshen College. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Goshen College graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $22,974, against average earnings of $35,900 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.64. 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 Goshen College?
The six-year graduation rate is 65.0%, 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.