Rhodes College
Memphis, Tennessee · Private Nonprofit · 50.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 73/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Rhodes College scores 73 (Fair Value) on the CampusROI scale. The 84.5% completion rate is strong. The main challenge is earnings: $40,800 average 6-year earnings is low relative to $57,110 sticker and a $28,585 net price, producing an 8-year payback period. The program mix is heavily weighted toward liberal arts where near-term earnings compress the near-term ROI. Computer Science (32 graduates) is the top performer at $60,225 year-one and $78,973 at year four (B grade). Business Administration (63 graduates) earns $58,550 year-one and $77,838 at year four (B grade). Economics (25 graduates) earns $57,814 year-one and $82,950 at year four (B+ grade). Most other programs - Biology, History, International Relations, Neurosciences - carry D grades with year-one earnings in the high $20s to mid-$30s and debt-to-earnings above 0.70.
Rhodes College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $57,110/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $57,110/yr |
| Average net price | $28,585/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $114,340 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $66,651 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $40,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,761 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $231 |
| Estimated payback period | 8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 84.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,836 |
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: $57,110/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $28,585/year, or roughly $114,340 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 $15,770/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $31,878/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $21,761, which works out to about $231 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($40,800) and comes to 0.53, 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 | $15,770 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $19,960 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $15,910 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $37,103 |
| $110,001+ | $31,878 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 bracket pays $15,770 per year - roughly $63,000 over four years. Given Rhodes' strong completion rate (84.5%) and 10-year earnings of $66,651, the long-run case is defensible. The near-term earnings trajectory is the challenge: $40,800 at six years requires patience. Low-income students who gain admission benefit from a selective credential at a relatively modest total investment.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $15,910 per year (unusually low - comparable to the lowest bracket), while the 75001-110000 bracket jumps to $37,103. The step at 75k is very steep. At $37,103/year, the four-year cost of $148,000 requires a careful ROI calculation for middle-income families in that bracket.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $31,878 per year - lower than the 75001-110000 bracket, which is an unusual inversion. At $127,000 over four years, the full-pay case rests on the long-run credential value. The 8-year payback and $40,800 average 6-year earnings make this a slow return. Students entering high-earning programs (economics, CS, business) can justify it; humanities and life sciences graduates face a longer horizon.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Rhodes College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | $50,036 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $77,838 | B |
| Computer Science | $78,973 | B |
| Psychology | $37,563 | C |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $56,744 | D |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $35,556 | C+ |
| Economics | $82,950 | B+ |
| International Relations | $72,062 | D |
| English Language and Literature | $49,042 | B |
| History | $29,279 | D |
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 (25 graduates) is the best-performing program by ROI grade: $57,814 year-one, $82,950 at year four (B+ grade, debt-to-earnings 0.337, median debt $19,500). Low median debt relative to the institution is notable. The four-year trajectory to $83k reflects consulting, banking, and corporate finance placement. This is a strong small-cohort outcome for a regional liberal arts college.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (63 graduates) earns $58,550 year-one and $77,838 at year four (B grade, debt-to-earnings 0.380, median debt $22,240). Year-one earnings of $58k are competitive for a Memphis-based liberal arts school. The four-year figure of $78k is solid. B grade ROI reflects manageable debt-to-earnings. This program has consistent outcomes.
Computer Science
Computer Science (32 graduates) earns $60,225 year-one and $78,973 at year four (B grade, debt-to-earnings 0.431, median debt $25,982). The four-year arc to $79k is reasonable. Debt-to-earnings of 0.431 is elevated relative to CS programs at technical universities but reflects liberal arts pricing and scale.
Biology
Biology (69 graduates, the largest program) earns $28,901 year-one and $50,036 at year four (D grade, debt-to-earnings 0.812, median debt $23,465). Low year-one earnings reflect the pre-medicine pathway - most biology graduates enter post-baccalaureate programs or medical school rather than immediate employment. The near-term ROI is poor, but this is largely a timing issue for students on the medical school track. Total debt must be weighed against the long-run professional school investment.
International Relations
International Relations (25 graduates) earns $35,537 year-one and $72,062 at year four (D grade, debt-to-earnings 0.746, median debt $26,500). Low year-one earnings reflect public sector and nonprofit entry-level roles. The four-year trajectory to $72k is meaningful improvement. The D grade captures the mismatch between near-term earnings and debt level. Students planning law school or graduate school should model total education debt carefully.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 86.9% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 88.3% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 86.2% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 91.9% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Rhodes 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 | 50.3% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 650-753 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 650-733 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 26-32 |
| Enrollment | 1,836 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 15.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,481 |
Rhodes admits 50.4% of applicants. Admissions emphasizes intellectual engagement and community fit.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Rhodes's completion rate is 84.5%.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhodes College (this school) | 73 | $28,585 | $66,651 |
| Wofford College | 81 | $18,732 | $68,964 |
| Occidental College | 73 | $38,263 | $75,951 |
| St Lawrence University | 69 | $28,651 | $67,258 |
| Baptist Health Sciences University | 69 | $11,212 | $72,529 |
| American Baptist College | 32 | $9,216 | $41,216 |
Who Thrives Here
Rhodes admits 50.4% of applicants, with SAT mid-ranges of 650-753 Math and 650-733 Reading (ACT 26-32). At 1,836 students, it is a small residential liberal arts college. The 15.9% Pell grant rate suggests a primarily upper-income student body. Rhodes attracts students interested in humanities, pre-medicine, pre-law, and sciences. The Memphis location connects students to healthcare (via St. Jude and other major medical institutions) and regional business. Students planning pre-medicine often accept lower near-term earnings in exchange for medical school trajectory - a pattern visible in the Biology outcomes.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Rhodes College is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $28,585 a year after aid ($114,340 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $66,651 a decade out, the cost takes about 8 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: its 84.5% graduation rate, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $21,761 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $40,800 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.53, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Rhodes College: Common Questions
Is Rhodes College worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Rhodes College is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 73/100 on our ROI scale. At $28,585 a year after aid ($114,340 over four years) against $66,651 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 8 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Rhodes 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 $28,585 a year, or roughly $114,340 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 Rhodes College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $66,651 ten years after enrolling, roughly $24,851 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 Rhodes 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 Rhodes College. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Rhodes College graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $21,761, against average earnings of $40,800 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.53. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Rhodes College?
The six-year graduation rate is 84.5%, 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.