Nichols College
Dudley, Massachusetts · Private Nonprofit · 80.8% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 45/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Nichols College is a small private nonprofit business-focused institution in Dudley, Massachusetts, enrolling about 1,163 students. Its overall ROI score of 45 places it in the Below Average Value tier. The institution's core challenge is price relative to outcomes: tuition of $42,705 and a net price of $33,036 yield a four-year cost of approximately $132,000, but average six-year earnings of $40,300 and a payback period of 11.8 years suggest modest returns for that investment. The completion rate is 63% and the 76% three-year repayment rate is adequate. The earnings premium subscore of 34 out of 100 is the main drag, partly because the institution's business focus should theoretically generate higher premiums than the data shows. Finance and accounting graduates do substantially outperform the institutional average, suggesting that program selection within Nichols's business-centric offerings matters significantly.
Nichols College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $42,705/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $42,705/yr |
| Average net price | $33,036/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $132,144 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $58,063 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $40,300 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 11.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 62.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,163 |
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: $42,705/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $33,036/year, or roughly $132,144 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 $22,054/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $35,731/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $27,000, which works out to about $286 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($40,300) and comes to 0.67, 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 | $22,054 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $24,749 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $31,978 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $33,851 |
| $110,001+ | $35,731 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Students from families earning under $30,000 face a net price of $22,054 at Nichols. The 11.8-year payback period and $40,300 average earnings suggest that low-income students should look closely at their intended program before committing.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income students ($48,001 - $75,000) pay approximately $31,978, close to the institutional average. At this level, the investment is justifiable primarily in finance, accounting, or marketing, where four-year earnings approach or exceed $75,000. Students in general business or criminal justice face a longer road to payoff at this price.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income students ($110,000-plus) pay $35,731 - the highest bracket at Nichols.
Earnings by Major
Top 9 most popular majors at Nichols College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management | $62,926 | C |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $53,531 | D |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $75,321 | C |
| Psychology | $52,824 | - |
| Marketing | $60,365 | B |
| Accounting | $78,894 | C+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $63,297 | C |
| Finance and Financial Management | $81,485 | C+ |
| International Business | $68,608 | - |
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.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance is Nichols's strongest tracked program. One-year earnings of $49,581 and four-year earnings of $81,485 reflect solid placement in Massachusetts financial services firms. Against $27,000 in median debt, the ratio of 0.55 earns a C+ grade - acceptable though not exceptional. With 16 annual graduates, the cohort is small; career outcomes may depend heavily on individual networking and internship activity in the Greater Boston market.
Accounting
Accounting graduates earn $53,761 one year out and $78,894 at four years, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48 that earns a C+ grade. The 21 annual graduates represent a meaningful pipeline into CPA track roles in Massachusetts. This program provides a reasonable financial return at Nichols's price point, particularly for students who pass the CPA exam and enter public accounting.
Marketing
Marketing is among Nichols's best-ratio programs. Four-year median earnings of $60,365 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.45 earn a B grade. One-year earnings data is unavailable, limiting a full short-term assessment. The 24 graduates annually benefit from the region's concentration of healthcare, technology, and consumer goods companies that recruit marketing talent from regional Massachusetts institutions.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice graduates earn $45,774 one year out and $75,321 at four years - the latter figure higher than might be expected, possibly reflecting placement into federal law enforcement or specialized corrections roles. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59 earns a C grade. With 30 graduates annually, this is one of Nichols's larger programs.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 73.0% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 75.9% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 70.0% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 72.0% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Nichols 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 | 80.8% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 500-613 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 528-623 |
| Enrollment | 1,163 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 25.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,714 |
Nichols admitted 81% of applicants with SAT math mid-range of 500 - 613 and reading of 528 - 623 - indicating a moderately selective but broadly accessible pool. No ACT ranges are published. Students should focus their evaluation on the net price offer relative to outcomes in their intended program.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nichols College (this school) | 45 | $33,036 | $58,063 |
| Amherst College | 90 | $23,367 | $77,644 |
| Georgian Court University | 47 | $19,285 | $53,096 |
| Northwestern College | 45 | $25,907 | $49,802 |
| Cornell College | 42 | $23,634 | $53,460 |
| American International College | 38 | $23,274 | $53,124 |
Who Thrives Here
Nichols attracts students seeking a small, close-knit business college environment in central Massachusetts. The 26% Pell rate reflects a modest proportion of low- and middle-income students. The 81% admission rate signals broad accessibility. Students who thrive here are business-oriented, value personal attention from faculty, and are seeking regional Massachusetts employment in finance, marketing, or management.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Nichols College is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $33,036 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $58,063 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 11.8 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.67 (median across the schools we score: 0.61).
Median debt of $27,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $40,300 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.67. 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.
Nichols College: Common Questions
Is Nichols College worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Nichols College scores 45/100 on our ROI scale. At $33,036 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $58,063 ten years after entry, so it takes about 11.8 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Nichols 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 $33,036 a year, or roughly $132,144 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 Nichols College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $58,063 ten years after enrolling, roughly $16,263 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 Nichols 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 11.8 years for Nichols College. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Nichols College graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $27,000, against average earnings of $40,300 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.67. 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 Nichols College?
The six-year graduation rate is 62.6%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (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.