Huntingdon College
Montgomery, Alabama · Private Nonprofit · 69.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 29/100 · Poor Value
Huntingdon College scores 29 (Poor Value), driven by every sub-score sitting in the bottom third: a 16.2% earnings premium, a 15.8-year payback period, a 0.780 debt-to-earnings ratio (heavy), a 48.0% completion rate, and a 60.1% three-year repayment rate (one of the weaker repayment numbers in the dataset). Sticker tuition is $29,070 with a net price of $22,566, and median student debt is $27,000 - meaningful borrowing for outcomes where 6-year median earnings sit at just $34,600. Earnings climb to $49,601 at 10 years but the trajectory is slow. Huntingdon is a small (879 students) United Methodist liberal arts college in Montgomery, Alabama. The program-level data underscores the institutional read: the four reported programs (accounting, two business tracks, kinesiology) all post D grades or no grade reported, and there's no high-earning anchor like nursing or engineering to lift institutional medians. Without a flagship financial program, Huntingdon's value case rests almost entirely on mission, community, and discount-package quality - the math at sticker or near-sticker prices is genuinely difficult.
The data raises concerns about Huntingdon College
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score29/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Payback period15.8 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Huntingdon College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $29,070/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $29,070/yr |
| Average net price | $22,566/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $90,264 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $49,601 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $34,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 15.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 48.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 879 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Huntingdon College is $29,070/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $22,566/year, or roughly $90,264 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $20,435/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $24,713/year.
The median graduate leaves with $27,000 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $286 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $49,601 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.78 - 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 | $20,435 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $19,992 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $22,966 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $24,589 |
| $110,001+ | $24,713 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $20,435 net annually. Notably, the $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays slightly less ($19,992) - a mild inversion likely reflecting Pell plus state aid stacking favorably for the second tier. Over four years that's $80K against $49K median 10-year earnings - the math is genuinely hard for low-income families even with deep discounting.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-$75,000) pay $22,966 - close to the school's average net price. Over four years that's $92K out of pocket. Without a high-earning major to anchor returns, this tier faces a structurally weak ROI unless the student commits to accounting and pursues CPA credentials.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Top-bracket families ($110,001+) pay $24,713 - effectively sticker. Over four years that's $99K. For Alabama high-income families weighing Huntingdon against Auburn or UA in-state, the value penalty is substantial; small-private mission fit is the only defensible reason to pay this premium.
Earnings by Major
Top 4 most popular majors at Huntingdon College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $46,746 | D |
| Business Administration and Management | $55,452 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $54,784 | D |
| Accounting | $65,820 | - |
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.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology is Huntingdon's largest reported program at 35 graduates per year - a large share for a school this size. Median earnings of $28,469 first-year and $46,746 four-year against $26,798 median debt produce a 0.941 debt-to-earnings ratio (D grade). This is a feeder program for graduate study (PT, OT, athletic training); terminal-bachelor's earnings don't justify the borrowing. Strong intent on graduate school is required to make the financial picture work.
Business Administration and Management
Business Administration and Management (18 graduates) earns a D grade with $32,446 first-year and $55,452 four-year earnings. Median debt of $27,000 yields a 0.832 ratio. The four-year earnings climb is moderate but doesn't redeem the borrowing intensity. A typical small-private business outcome - not bad enough to avoid, but not strong enough to recommend on financial grounds alone.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration, Management, and Operations (14 graduates) posts $40,031 first-year and $54,784 four-year earnings. With $30,959 median debt - the highest on campus - the 0.773 debt-to-earnings ratio earns a D grade. First-year earnings are slightly stronger here than the sister 5201 code, suggesting different program structure or placement focus.
Accounting
Accounting (8 graduates) is Huntingdon's strongest reported program by 4-year earnings ($65,820), though small graduate count and missing debt data limit the read. Accounting is portable and CPA-track-friendly; for students confident they'll pass the credential and place into corporate or public accounting roles, this is the best financial bet on campus despite the small program scale.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 56.7% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 60.1% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 59.3% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 61.5% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 69.5% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 473-610 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 533-610 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 20-25 |
| Enrollment | 879 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 40.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,725 |
Huntingdon admits 69.5% of applicants - moderately accessible. SAT mid-ranges (math 473-610, reading 533-610) and ACT 20-25 indicate a typical small-private academic profile, with a wide spread between the 25th and 75th percentiles. The 69.5% admit rate paired with a 48.0% completion rate suggests the school admits students it cannot reliably finish - a familiar small-private pattern. Selectivity is a soft signal here.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Peers include Faulkner University (Alabama Baptist private with similar profile), Heritage Christian University, Lake Erie College, Kentucky Wesleyan College, and Be'er Yaakov Talmudic Seminary. Within the small-faith-private peer set, Huntingdon's 10-year earnings of $49,601 are roughly competitive with Lake Erie and Kentucky Wesleyan. Faulkner posts somewhat stronger numbers driven by a larger enrollment base. The peer set is uniformly in the Poor-to-Below-Average value range, confirming that Huntingdon's challenges are structural to the small-faith-private segment, not specific to this institution.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntingdon College (this school) | 29 | $22,566 | $49,601 |
| Heritage Christian University | 37 | $15,426 | $42,597 |
| Lake Erie College | 32 | $20,961 | $50,417 |
| Kentucky Wesleyan College | 31 | $17,131 | $46,747 |
| Be'er Yaakov Talmudic Seminary | 25 | $4,543 | $17,360 |
| Faulkner University | 19 | $22,085 | $43,457 |
Who Thrives Here
Huntingdon's 879-student enrollment, 40.1% Pell rate, and Methodist heritage produce a culturally distinctive small Alabama private. Best fit: students drawn to the faith community, Division III athletics, and the Montgomery campus environment. The 48% completion rate is concerning but reflects in part the school's heavy mix of athletes and first-generation students - groups with higher external-pressure attrition. Students should pursue accounting (the strongest financial track) or plan for graduate school in helping professions; broad business and kinesiology paths produce outcomes that don't justify the borrowing.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Huntingdon College. With a net cost of $22,566 per year and median graduate earnings of only $49,601 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 15.8 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 48.0% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $27,000 against $49,601 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.