Rochester University
Rochester Hills, Michigan · Private Nonprofit · 97.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 29/100 · Poor Value
Rochester University, a small private nonprofit in Rochester Hills, Michigan, posts a Poor Value ROI score of 29/100, placing it in the red tier. The numbers tell a difficult story: only 44.1% of students complete their degree, median earnings six years after entry sit at just $35,200, and the payback period stretches to 16.5 years. Debt-to-earnings comes in at 0.695, meaning typical graduates owe roughly 70 cents in student debt for every dollar of early-career income, which is high. The published sticker price is $29,196 per year, dropping to a $21,456 net price after aid, but the four-year total still lands near $85,824. What drags the score down is the combination of weak repayment (just 53.2% of borrowers making progress on principal seven years out), modest earnings, and a sub-50% completion rate. The earnings premium over high-school graduates is also thin at 16%, suggesting the credential adds limited wage lift on average. There is upside in specific programs (notably nursing), but the institution-wide signal is that prospective students should price-shop carefully and consider whether a less expensive in-state alternative might deliver similar outcomes at a lower cost.
The data raises concerns about Rochester University
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score29/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Payback period16.5 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Rochester University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $29,196/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $29,196/yr |
| Average net price | $21,456/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $85,824 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $48,707 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $35,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,475 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $259 |
| Estimated payback period | 16.5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 44.1% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 792 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Rochester University is $29,196/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $21,456/year, or roughly $85,824 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $18,463/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $25,821/year.
The median graduate leaves with $24,475 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $259 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $48,707 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.69 - 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 | $18,463 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $17,173 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $19,771 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $20,596 |
| $110,001+ | $25,821 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay about $18,463 per year net, and the $30,001-$48,000 bracket actually pays slightly less at $17,173. Over four years, that is roughly $70,000-$74,000 of all-in cost. Given median six-year earnings of $35,200, the math is strained even with generous aid; lower-income families should run the in-state public comparison hard before committing.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income households ($48,001-$110,000) pay between $19,771 and $20,596 net per year, putting four-year cost near $80,000-$82,000. For this bracket the aid offset is smaller and the ROI case weakens further. Unless the student is targeting nursing or a clearly high-earning track, the price-to-outcome gap is hard to justify versus Michigan publics.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $25,821 per year net, only modestly discounted from the $29,196 sticker. Four-year all-in cost approaches $103,000. At that price point, weighed against $48,707 median ten-year earnings, the financial case effectively requires either a high-paying program choice or a non-financial rationale such as religious mission fit.
Earnings by Major
Top 6 most popular majors at Rochester University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Teacher Education | $43,039 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $60,312 | C |
| Psychology | $46,344 | D |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $45,314 | C |
| Registered Nursing | $90,425 | C+ |
| Communication and Media Studies | $51,856 | 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.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is the bright spot at Rochester. Graduates post $72,825 in median first-year earnings and $90,425 at four years, with median debt of $35,500 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.487 - a C+ ROI grade and meaningfully better than the institution-wide picture. Only 10 graduates a year makes the cohort small, but the program leverages strong Michigan healthcare demand and clear licensure pathways. For students committed to nursing, this is the program that justifies the price tag.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business is the largest program by graduate count outside teacher ed, with 26 grads earning a median of $50,673 at year one and $60,312 at year four. Median debt of $31,250 and a 0.617 debt-to-earnings ratio yield a C ROI grade. The earnings are middle-of-the-road for business undergrads nationally, and the debt load is on the high side - a workable but not standout outcome.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education is Rochester's largest program at 60 graduates, but the financial profile is weak: $35,163 first-year earnings, $43,039 at four years, $25,217 median debt, and a 0.717 debt-to-earnings ratio earning a D ROI grade. Michigan teacher salaries are modest, and the debt-to-earnings burden is structurally hard for new teachers. Students pursuing teaching should look at lower-cost paths to certification.
Psychology
Psychology grads earn $33,375 at year one and $46,344 at year four with $29,687 in median debt - a 0.889 debt-to-earnings ratio, the worst in Rochester's program mix, yielding a D ROI grade. Psychology nationally requires graduate study to unlock higher earnings; undergrads who stop at the bachelor's typically face this kind of debt-to-income squeeze. Consider this a feeder program for further study, not a terminal degree path.
Communication and Media Studies
Communication grads (10 per year) post $36,051 at one year and $51,856 at four years, with $26,166 median debt and a 0.726 debt-to-earnings ratio - a D ROI grade. The four-year earnings curve is decent, but the debt load relative to early earnings is steep. Outcomes vary widely in this field based on portfolio and networking; the price-to-payoff math here depends heavily on individual hustle.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 50.3% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 53.2% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 53.5% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 58.2% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 97.7% |
| Enrollment | 792 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 30.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,476 |
Rochester University is essentially open-admission, with an admit rate of 97.65%. SAT and ACT mid-ranges are not reported in current Scorecard data, suggesting test scores are largely optional or not collected at scale. An open-access posture is meaningful here because it correlates with the 44% completion rate: when entry standards are low, the burden of persistence and academic support shifts entirely onto the institution, and the data shows many students do not finish.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Scorecard groups Rochester with peers including Adrian College, Albion College, Greenville University, Be'er Yaakov Talmudic Seminary, and Thomas College. Among these, Albion and Adrian are more selective Michigan liberal-arts colleges with stronger completion profiles, while Greenville University in Illinois and Thomas College in Maine occupy a similar small-private niche. Rochester's 29 ROI score sits at the lower end of this peer set; students choosing between these schools should compare net price by income bracket and program-specific earnings rather than relying on brand or campus feel alone.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester University (this school) | 29 | $21,456 | $48,707 |
| Albion College | 65 | $14,301 | $58,799 |
| Adrian College | 39 | $25,368 | $55,504 |
| Greenville University | 29 | $19,533 | $46,827 |
| Thomas College | 28 | $18,885 | $44,991 |
| Be'er Yaakov Talmudic Seminary | 25 | $4,543 | $17,360 |
Who Thrives Here
Rochester serves a small student body of 792, with a Pell grant rate of 30.9%, indicating roughly a third of students come from lower-income households. The school fits a regional Michigan student looking for a faith-affiliated, small-classroom environment, particularly one entering the nursing program where post-graduate earnings ($72,825 at one year) materially outperform the institution-wide median. Students aiming for psychology, communications, or general education should weigh the D-grade ROI on those programs carefully against in-state public alternatives.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Rochester University. With a net cost of $21,456 per year and median graduate earnings of only $48,707 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 16.5 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 44.1% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $24,475 against $48,707 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.