Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Terre Haute, Indiana · Private Nonprofit · 76.9% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 89/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology scores 89 (Strong Value) on the CampusROI scale. The repayment rate at three years is 97.1% and signals near-universal debt management success among graduates. Average 6-year earnings of $70,800 and a 4.7-year payback period justify the $58,649 tuition for most engineering students. The 78.2% completion rate is below what Rose-Hulman's reputation might suggest, indicating meaningful attrition even in a dedicated engineering program. Median debt of $25,000 against $70,800 average earnings is workable. Computer Science leads at $100,294 year-one (63 graduates, A grade), followed by Computer Engineering at $92,123 (63 graduates, B+ grade) and Mathematics at $85,977 (10 graduates). All eight programs in the Scorecard data earn B or better. Net price of $42,513 is high in absolute terms but delivers above-average earnings outcomes efficiently for students who complete. The 10-year median of $101,253 indicates sustained career trajectory.
The median graduate earns $101,253 ten years after entry - well above the roughly $53,600 median across the schools we score.
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $58,649/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $58,649/yr |
| Average net price | $42,513/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $170,052 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $101,253 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $70,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $265 |
| Estimated payback period | 4.7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 78.2% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,309 |
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: $58,649/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $42,513/year, or roughly $170,052 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 $36,843/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $45,994/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $25,000, which works out to about $265 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($70,800) and comes to 0.35, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
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 | $36,843 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $33,742 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $37,396 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $38,843 |
| $110,001+ | $45,994 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families in the $0-$30,000 bracket pay $36,843 per year at Rose-Hulman. The $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $33,742. At $36k net price for the lowest-income families, the institutional aid is not enough to overcome the affordability barrier - very few students from this bracket attend Rose-Hulman, as reflected in the 11.8% Pell rate. For those who do, the strong earnings outcomes and 97.1% repayment rate mean the investment is financially recoverable.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $37,396 per year. The $75,001-$110,000 bracket pays $38,843. Rose-Hulman's aid structure provides minimal income-differentiation across brackets - most families pay close to $37-43k regardless of income. For middle-income families committed to engineering, the strong graduate earnings justify this cost for students who complete the program.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $45,994 per year at Rose-Hulman - roughly $184,000 over four years. Against $70,800 average 6-year earnings and a 4.7-year payback, the full-pay case is financially solid for STEM graduates. The 97.1% repayment rate suggests the vast majority of Rose-Hulman graduates manage this debt burden successfully.
Earnings by Major
Top 8 most popular majors at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | $95,983 | B+ |
| Computer Science | $123,753 | A |
| Computer Engineering | $109,164 | B+ |
| Electrical Engineering | $96,448 | B+ |
| Biomedical Engineering | $90,484 | B |
| Chemical Engineering | $98,341 | B+ |
| Civil Engineering | $88,155 | B+ |
| Mathematics | $112,187 | B+ |
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.
Computer Science
Computer Science earns 63 graduates, $100,294 year-one, $123,753 at year four, A-grade ROI (debt-to-earnings 0.244) with median debt of $24,500. Year-one earnings of $100k at a school with under 2,500 undergraduates reflects the Rose-Hulman CS brand in the tech industry. The year-four figure of $124k is strong, driven by career progression in software and systems engineering. Against $42,513 net price, this is a solid CS value proposition.
Computer Engineering
Computer Engineering posts 63 graduates, $92,123 year-one, $109,164 at year four, B+-grade ROI (debt-to-earnings 0.270) with median debt of $24,834. These are strong outcomes. Rose-Hulman CE graduates enter embedded systems, semiconductor, and software engineering roles. The year-four figure of $109k reflects career trajectory in a field with strong mid-career growth. B+ rather than A reflects the slightly higher debt relative to earnings versus the CS program.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering is the largest program at 121 graduates: $78,732 year-one, $95,983 at year four, B+-grade (debt-to-earnings 0.325) with median debt of $25,612. ME graduates enter manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, and energy sectors. The four-year trajectory to $96k is solid. Rose-Hulman ME has strong industry recruiting relationships that distinguish it from regional engineering programs. The B+ grade reflects adequate but not exceptional debt management at the $25k median debt level.
Chemical Engineering
Chemical Engineering earns 27 graduates, $82,394 year-one, $98,341 at year four, B+-grade ROI (debt-to-earnings 0.297) with median debt of $24,500. ChemE at Rose-Hulman places graduates into petrochemical, pharmaceutical, and materials industries. Year-one earnings of $82k are strong for a small private engineering school. The four-year trajectory to nearly $100k reflects typical ChemE career progression into engineering roles and process management.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 94.9% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 97.1% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 90.9% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 93.4% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology’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 | 76.9% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 670-770 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 650-730 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 29-34 |
| Enrollment | 2,309 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 11.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,761 |
Rose-Hulman's 76.9% admission rate is moderately accessible despite its reputation. SAT 670-770 Math and 650-730 Reading and ACT 29-34 describe the competitive range. The school's engineering mission means applicants must demonstrate clear interest in STEM fields. Admitted students tend to be strong math and science performers who have prioritized Rose-Hulman specifically for its teaching-focused engineering education.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (this school) | 89 | $42,513 | $101,253 |
| Clarkson University | 88 | $30,305 | $89,696 |
| Ohio Northern University | 88 | $24,478 | $80,928 |
| University of Detroit Mercy | 84 | $15,232 | $71,030 |
| Bethel University | 34 | $18,610 | $48,860 |
| Anderson University | 32 | $25,021 | $48,899 |
Who Thrives Here
Rose-Hulman admits 76.9% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 670-770 Math and 650-730 Reading; ACT composite 29-34. The strong math SAT range reflects the engineering mission. Pell rate of 11.8% is low, indicating limited lower-income enrollment. The campus environment is intensely STEM-focused and residential - a good fit for students who are certain about engineering career paths. The 78.2% completion rate reflects the rigor of the engineering curriculum. Students who are academically underprepared for college-level engineering will struggle here.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology pays off. You'd pay about $42,513 a year after aid ($170,052 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $101,253 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 4.7 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 78.2% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $25,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $70,800 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.35, 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.
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology: Common Questions
Is Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology pays off. It scores 89/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $42,513 a year after aid ($170,052 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $101,253 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 4.7 years to earn back.
How much does Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology 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 $42,513 a year, or roughly $170,052 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 Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $101,253 ten years after enrolling, roughly $59,453 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 Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology?
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 4.7 years for Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,000, against average earnings of $70,800 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.35. 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 Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology?
The six-year graduation rate is 78.2%, 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.