Mary Baldwin University
Staunton, Virginia · Private Nonprofit
ROI Score: 25/100 · Poor Value
Mary Baldwin University earns an overall ROI score of 25 (Poor Value). The Staunton, VA private nonprofit -- historically a women's college, now coed -- charges $34,152 tuition with an average net price of just $12,756 -- one of the larger institutional discounts in the database. Four-year cost is $51,024, which is genuinely competitive. Median earnings hit $30,800 six years out and $44,427 at 10 years, with $26,586 median debt and debt-to-earnings of 0.863. Payback is 20.3 years. Repayment is 64.4% three-year, climbing slowly to 69% by year seven. Completion is 39.3% -- the weakest piece of the profile and the primary drag on the institutional score. The low effective price keeps the financial damage modest, but the high attrition rate means most enrolled students do not capture even those modest gains. The strongest program is Business Administration (C grade); Social Work pulls a D grade and is one of the larger majors. Mary Baldwin's small scale (1,090 enrolled) and heavy Pell concentration (55.3%) mean it serves a need-heavy student body where completion support is critical.
The data raises concerns about Mary Baldwin University
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score25/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- 6-year graduation rate39.3% - Well below the 60% national average. Non-completion is the fastest route to negative ROI.
- Payback period20.3 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Mary Baldwin University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $34,152/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $34,152/yr |
| Average net price | $12,756/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $51,024 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $44,427 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $30,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,586 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $282 |
| Estimated payback period | 20.3 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 39.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,090 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Mary Baldwin University is $34,152/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $12,756/year, or roughly $51,024 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $12,717/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $14,806/year.
The median graduate leaves with $26,586 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $282 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $44,427 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.86 - 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 | $12,717 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $9,527 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $11,537 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $14,801 |
| $110,001+ | $14,806 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30K pay $12,717 net per year. Four-year cost is about $51K. Pell-eligible students get strong institutional discount and the absolute cost is manageable. The risk concentration is completion, not pricing.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 30-48K bracket pays $9,527 -- the lowest of any bracket. The 48-75K bracket pays $11,537 and 75-110K pays $14,801. Four-year cost runs $38K-$59K. Aid is genuinely progressive in this band. Defensible against in-state Virginia public alternatives for students who fit the small-college model.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families over $110K pay $14,806 -- nearly identical to the 75-110K bracket. The aid structure is unusually flat at the top. Four-year cost is $59K, still well below sticker. At this price the value question becomes whether Mary Baldwin's specific programs (historically strong in fine arts, education) justify the spend over Virginia state options.
Earnings by Major
Top 7 most popular majors at Mary Baldwin University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $58,459 | C |
| Social Work | $46,971 | D |
| Political Science and Government | $47,117 | - |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $50,117 | C |
| Psychology | $45,703 | - |
| Registered Nursing | $97,279 | - |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $58,714 | - |
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
Business Administration earns a C with 43 graduates. First-year earnings of $44,920 climb to $58,459 at four years against $31,000 median debt -- a 0.69 debt-to-earnings ratio. The four-year trajectory is reasonable for a small-college business program. This is the strongest reportable financial track at Mary Baldwin.
Social Work
Social Work earns a D with 33 graduates -- the second-largest reportable program. First-year earnings of $37,537 against $33,375 median debt produces a 0.889 ratio. Debt is unusually heavy for this discipline at Mary Baldwin, exceeding the institutional median. Four-year earnings of $46,971 do not recover the position. Students drawn to social work as a vocation should price-compare carefully against in-state public alternatives.
Political Science and Government
Political Science graduates 27 students per cycle with $47,117 median four-year earnings. Earnings, debt, and ROI grade are partially suppressed. This is a popular liberal arts track at Mary Baldwin that historically feeds Washington DC-area policy and government work. Without graduate-school plans the undergraduate financial case is moderate.
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Liberal Arts and Sciences earns a C with 26 graduates. First-year earnings of $40,887 against $27,089 debt produces a 0.663 ratio. This is the general liberal arts track and one of the better-performing programs by debt-to-earnings. Suggests Mary Baldwin's small-college pedagogy translates reasonably well to broad-skills employment.
Psychology
Psychology graduates 21 students per cycle with $45,703 median four-year earnings. First-year earnings, debt, and ROI grade are suppressed. Like most psychology undergraduate programs, the financial case depends heavily on graduate study plans.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 56.4% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 64.4% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 59.7% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 69.0% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Enrollment | 1,090 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 55.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,926 |
Admission rate is not reported in current Scorecard data, nor are SAT or ACT mid-ranges. Mary Baldwin historically operates as a moderately selective private with test-optional policy. The 39.3% completion rate is well below sector norms for private liberal arts colleges and suggests significant academic-preparation gaps in the entering class or weak support infrastructure for the Pell-heavy student body.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Peers include Averett University, Bluefield University, Edward Waters University, Guilford College, and North Carolina Wesleyan University. Averett and Bluefield are Virginia private nonprofits with similar challenges. Guilford is a stronger North Carolina liberal arts college. Edward Waters is a Florida HBCU. NC Wesleyan is a mid-tier NC private. The peer set highlights Mary Baldwin's positioning within the mid-Atlantic struggling-private-liberal-arts cohort.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mary Baldwin University (this school) | 25 | $12,756 | $44,427 |
| Salem College | 26 | $18,277 | $44,640 |
| Columbia College | 25 | $22,715 | $45,378 |
| Wesleyan College | 24 | $12,724 | $44,317 |
| Midway University | 24 | $29,579 | $44,246 |
| Hollins University | 21 | $20,896 | $40,075 |
Who Thrives Here
Mary Baldwin fits Virginia and mid-Atlantic students drawn to small-college experience, historically including a focus on women's leadership and innovative programs like the early college Program for the Exceptionally Gifted. Pell rate is 55.3% -- a high-need population. Enrollment is 1,090. The fit case rests on community and pedagogical experience rather than financial-ROI metrics. Students should pursue maximum outside scholarship support before enrolling.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Mary Baldwin University. With a net cost of $12,756 per year and median graduate earnings of only $44,427 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 20.3 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 39.3% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $26,586 against $44,427 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.