Maryville College
Maryville, Tennessee · Private Nonprofit · 60.9% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 35/100 · Poor Value
Maryville College earns a Poor Value ROI score of 35/100, placing it in the red tier among private nonprofit liberal arts colleges. The numbers tell a difficult story: a 50% completion rate means half of enrolling students never graduate, median earnings six years after entry sit at just $31,800 (rising to $49,279 at the 10-year mark), and a 15.2-year payback period reflects the gap between $19,360 net price and modest early-career wages. The most punishing sub-score is debt-to-earnings at 15/100, with graduates carrying $25,375 in median debt against a 0.798 debt-to-earnings ratio that exceeds the federal gainful-employment threshold. Sticker tuition is $39,284 with a four-year total cost of $77,440. The 75% three-year repayment rate provides one bright spot, suggesting most borrowers stay current on payments even if the math is tight. The earnings premium over a high-school baseline is only 0.184, indicating a Maryville degree adds limited measurable lifetime wage benefit. Prospective students should treat the $19,360 net price as a price-tag question, not a brand question.
The data raises concerns about Maryville College
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score35/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Payback period15.2 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Maryville College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $39,284/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $39,284/yr |
| Average net price | $19,360/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $77,440 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $49,279 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $31,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,375 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $269 |
| Estimated payback period | 15.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 50.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,005 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Maryville College is $39,284/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $19,360/year, or roughly $77,440 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $15,094/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $26,769/year.
The median graduate leaves with $25,375 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $269 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $49,279 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.80 - 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 | $15,094 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $16,512 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $20,758 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $20,832 |
| $110,001+ | $26,769 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay a net price of $15,094, the lowest bracket. That's $60,376 over four years against eventual 10-year median earnings of $49,279, which makes the cost recoverable but slow. Pell-eligible students stretching to attend should max federal aid before borrowing, because debt at this earnings tier produces the 0.798 debt-to-earnings strain visible in the schoolwide numbers.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Households in the $48,001-$75,000 bracket pay $20,758 net, and those in the $75,001-$110,000 bracket pay $20,832, essentially identical. The middle-income family is the most exposed: they qualify for the least merit-and-need stacking but still face a $83,000+ four-year bill against modest $49,279 10-year earnings. The math only works if the student finishes (50% don't) and chooses a higher-earning major like business.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $26,769 net, or roughly $107,000 over four years. At sticker the school costs $39,284. High-income families paying full freight should compare Maryville directly against flagship state options where the earnings outcome will likely beat $49,279 at a lower cash outlay. The Maryville premium here is fit, not finance.
Earnings by Major
Top 2 most popular majors at Maryville College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $63,053 | C |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $57,231 | 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
Business is Maryville's largest reported program with 13 graduates, posting $42,971 in earnings one year out and $63,053 by year four. The 0.605 debt-to-earnings ratio earns a C ROI grade, meaning the major is workable but not a slam dunk; $26,000 median debt is recoverable on a $63,000 income, but only if students finish. For a Maryville student set on the school, business is the highest-ROI named major in the data and a defensible bet.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology has 10 graduates with $57,231 in four-year earnings and $27,000 in median debt, producing a 0.472 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C+ ROI grade, the school's strongest reported program. The catch is that kinesiology often requires graduate work (PT, OT, athletic training) to hit those earnings ceilings, so the four-year debt figure understates the true cost path. Treat the C+ as 'good for undergrad,' not 'good as a terminal degree.'
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 67.6% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 75.0% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 76.4% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 78.3% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 60.9% |
| Enrollment | 1,005 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 37.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,851 |
Maryville's 60.9% admission rate signals modest selectivity within a self-selecting applicant pool, but the school does not report SAT or ACT mid-ranges in current Scorecard data, leaving little signal about academic profile. The 50% completion rate combined with mid-tier selectivity suggests Maryville admits students with a wide preparation range, and the bottom half struggle to finish. Prepared, motivated students likely graduate on time; underprepared students face attrition risk.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Among Maryville's peer cohort, University of Pikeville and Geneva College tend to land in similar Poor-to-Below-Average ROI territory, anchored by small enrollments, modest endowments, and regional labor markets that constrain post-graduation wages. Our Lady of the Lake University in Texas faces a similar earnings ceiling, while American Baptist College and Baptist Health Sciences University serve very different niches (faith-based and allied-health respectively). Across this peer set, Maryville's 15.2-year payback period is roughly in the middle, but its 0.798 debt-to-earnings ratio is among the most concerning.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryville College (this school) | 35 | $19,360 | $49,279 |
| Baptist Health Sciences University | 69 | $11,212 | $72,529 |
| Geneva College | 38 | $25,890 | $50,004 |
| Our Lady of the Lake University | 35 | $16,442 | $48,675 |
| University of Pikeville | 33 | $20,311 | $48,231 |
| American Baptist College | 32 | $9,216 | $41,216 |
Who Thrives Here
Maryville works best for students who are committed liberal-arts learners, can keep net price near the $15,094 low-income bracket through aggressive aid layering, and have a clear plan for a higher-earning post-grad path (business, sciences, or graduate school). With enrollment of just 1,005 students and a 37.7% Pell rate, the campus skews toward smaller, residential, mission-driven cohorts. Students drawn to large research universities, vocational training, or career-track engineering programs will find better economic fits elsewhere. The 50% completion rate is the single biggest risk factor.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Maryville College. With a net cost of $19,360 per year and median graduate earnings of only $49,279 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 15.2 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 50.0% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn and a long payback period.
Median debt of $25,375 against $49,279 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.