Kenyon College
Gambier, Ohio · Private Nonprofit · 31.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 73/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Kenyon College earns a 73/100 ROI score in our Fair Value tier - strong fundamentals across the board, with a sticker price that lands $4,000-$10,000 below most elite peer LAC pricing only because of generous institutional aid pulling the net price down to $38,512. Kenyon's $71,520 sticker tuition is fully top-tier; the value proposition is built on aid, retention, and long-tail earnings. Completion rate of 82.3% is excellent, and the three-year repayment rate of 88.5% is among the best on our database - Kenyon graduates pay down debt aggressively. Median earnings of $39,100 six years out are modest but climb sharply to $71,830 by year ten, reflecting the typical liberal-arts trajectory: graduate school, professional credentialing, and post-college maturation. Median debt of just $18,527 against eventual $71,830 earnings produces a 0.47 debt-to-earnings ratio, and the 8.0-year paybackPeriod is solid. Four-year total cost of $154,048 looks daunting on paper but Kenyon's aid distribution makes it accessible to many income brackets. With 1,732 students and a 9.5% Pell rate, Kenyon is small, residential, and selective - a classic top-50 LAC profile in rural Ohio.
Kenyon College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $71,520/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $71,520/yr |
| Average net price | $38,512/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $154,048 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $71,830 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $39,100 |
| Median debt at graduation | $18,527 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $196 |
| Estimated payback period | 8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 82.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,732 |
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: $71,520/year. Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $38,512/year, or roughly $154,048 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 $18,242/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $51,432/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $18,527 in federal loans, which works out to about $196 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $71,830 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.47, 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 | $18,242 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $26,319 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $19,156 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $23,757 |
| $110,001+ | $51,432 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $18,242 net - a strong number reflecting Kenyon's robust need-based aid. Across four years that's $72,968 against eventual $71,830 10-year earnings - a defensible bet, especially with Kenyon's 82% completion rate ensuring students finish. Pell-eligible students who get admitted should treat Kenyon as one of their best aid-leveraged options.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The brackets here are inverted: $30,001 - $48,000 pays $26,319 but $48,001 - $75,000 pays $19,156 - that's $7,000 LESS for higher income. This reflects the underlying College Scorecard sample variance for a small school (1,732 students). Run Kenyon's net price calculator directly. The $75,001 - $110,000 bracket pays $23,757, which is more in line with expectations.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $51,432 - over $205,000 across four years, well above the $154,048 published total cost figure, suggesting many full-pay families pay close to or above sticker. High-income families are subsidizing Kenyon's need-based aid for lower-income peers. With $71,830 10-year earnings, the ROI math is acceptable but not exceptional for full-pay families; the value is the network and the experience.
Earnings by Major
Top 6 most popular majors at Kenyon College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| English Language and Literature | $52,945 | C |
| Economics | $103,791 | B+ |
| Psychology | $39,203 | C+ |
| International Relations | $39,550 | C+ |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $53,620 | C |
| International/Globalization Studies | $72,305 | - |
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.
Economics
Economics is Kenyon's flagship value play: 61 graduates with first-year earnings of $58,082 climbing to $103,791 by year four - outstanding for an LAC and the strongest ROI grade (B+) in our program data. Median debt of $18,718 yields a 0.32 debt-to-earnings ratio, well within the comfort zone. This program competes directly with elite university economics programs on outcomes, with the added benefit of LAC writing-and-quantitative training that opens consulting and finance pipelines.
English Language and Literature
Kenyon's storied English program graduates 86 students annually - its largest cohort. First-year earnings of $29,962 climb to $52,945 by year four, with $19,000 median debt yielding a 0.63 debt-to-earnings ratio (C grade). The trajectory understates outcomes for students who continue to law school, MFA programs, or publishing; Kenyon's literary reputation (home of the Kenyon Review) opens doors that the four-year earnings figure doesn't capture.
Psychology
Psychology graduates 47 students with first-year earnings of $39,203 - strong for a bachelor's-only psych path - against $19,000 median debt for a 0.49 debt-to-earnings ratio (C+ grade). Four-year earnings data is suppressed but graduates likely pursue clinical, counseling, or research-track grad work. Kenyon's small-class research-mentorship model suits students aiming at PhD or Psy.D programs.
International Relations
International Relations graduates 41 with first-year earnings of $39,550 against $18,354 median debt - a 0.46 debt-to-earnings ratio (C+ grade). Graduates feed into NGO, foreign service, and consulting tracks, often pursuing MA work in policy or area studies within 2-4 years. Kenyon's international studies program leverages strong language offerings and a residential intellectual community.
Fine and Studio Arts
Fine Arts graduates 31 students annually with first-year earnings of $23,082 climbing to $53,620 by year four - better than typical fine-arts programs at peer LACs. Median debt of $15,500 (Kenyon's lowest reported program debt) yields a 0.67 debt-to-earnings ratio (C grade). Graduates leverage Kenyon's strong arts community and small class sizes; outcomes are above the bachelor-only fine-arts norm but still below market-oriented majors.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 88.5% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 89.0% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 90.3% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 90.4% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Kenyon 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 | 31.0% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 678-760 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 680-743 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 31-33 |
| Enrollment | 1,732 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 9.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,767 |
Kenyon admits 31.0% of applicants - selective by any measure. SAT mid-ranges of 678-760 (math) and 680-743 (reading) plus an ACT range of 31-33 indicate a top-decile-academic student body. The 82.3% completion rate confirms that selectivity translates directly to retention: well-prepared students who get in tend to finish. Kenyon's selectivity also functions as a screen for students who can productively use the small-college, high-engagement model.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Kenyon's listed peers - Allegheny Wesleyan College, Art Academy of Cincinnati, Bryn Mawr College, Illinois Wesleyan University, and Whitman College - are mostly fair comparisons except for Allegheny Wesleyan and the Art Academy, which are much smaller and differently positioned. Bryn Mawr and Whitman are direct LAC peers; Bryn Mawr posts somewhat stronger 10-year earnings due to its proximity to Philadelphia, while Whitman matches Kenyon closely. Illinois Wesleyan is a step below in selectivity but comparable on price-to-outcomes math. Kenyon sits squarely in the upper-mid tier of the LAC market.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenyon College (this school) | 73 | $38,512 | $71,830 |
| Bryn Mawr College | 74 | $31,759 | $75,217 |
| Illinois Wesleyan University | 73 | $28,199 | $70,871 |
| Whitman College | 72 | $33,313 | $67,589 |
| Allegheny Wesleyan College | 29 | $5,355 | $37,453 |
| Art Academy of Cincinnati | 9 | $34,253 | $34,368 |
Who Thrives Here
Kenyon fits academically strong students drawn to writing, the humanities, economics, and small-college residential life in rural Ohio. With 1,732 students and a 9.5% Pell rate, the campus skews high-income, with strong family resources and an established post-college networking pipeline. Outcomes are particularly strong for Economics graduates ($103,791 four-year earnings, B+ grade) and International Studies. The 88.5% repayment rate and 0.47 debt-to-earnings ratio confirm graduates exit financially solid. Students looking for vocational/pre-professional tracks may be better served elsewhere; Kenyon's value is in the writing-and-research training and the post-graduate networks.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Kenyon College is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $38,512 a year after aid ($154,048 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $71,830 a decade out, the cost takes about 8 years to earn back. That's roughly average - not a bargain, not a mistake.
What it has going for it: its 82.3% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
On debt, you can breathe a little easier here. A median $18,527 owed against $71,830 in annual earnings is very manageable - comfortably inside the advisor rule of thumb that total debt should not exceed first-year salary.
Kenyon College: Common Questions
Is Kenyon College worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Kenyon College is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 73/100 on our ROI scale. At $38,512 a year after aid ($154,048 over four years) against $71,830 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 8 years to earn back - roughly average.
How much does Kenyon College cost after financial aid?
The average net price - what students actually pay after grants and scholarships - is about $38,512 a year, or roughly $154,048 over four years. That is the number to plan around, not the sticker price. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Kenyon College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $71,830 ten years after enrolling, roughly $30,030 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 Kenyon 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 8 years for Kenyon College. Most four-year schools we track land between 4 and 10 years.
How much debt do Kenyon College graduates take on?
Median debt at graduation is about $18,527, against $71,830 in typical earnings a decade out. That is very manageable - comfortably inside the advisor rule of thumb that total debt should stay under a year of salary.
What is the graduation rate at Kenyon College?
The six-year graduation rate is 82.3%, 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.