Springfield College
Springfield, Massachusetts · Private Nonprofit · 71.9% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 36/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Springfield College scores 36 (Below Benchmark) on the CampusROI scale. This private institution in Springfield, Massachusetts is built around a distinctive "Humanics" philosophy of physical, mental, and spiritual development and has deep roots in physical education, health, and applied human services. Average 6-year earnings of $40,700 against a $45,174 tuition and $30,587 net price produce a 20.1-year payback period. The completion rate of 74.2% is a genuine strength, indicating that most students who start do finish. But the repayment rate of 64.6% signals that roughly a third of graduates are not making progress on their debt within seven years, which reflects the human-services and health professions orientation of the student body. Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (79 graduates) shows $69,355 four-year earnings (ROI grade B), and Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment (45 graduates) shows $86,056 at four years. Kinesiology and Exercise Science (97 graduates) - the largest program - earns $34,191 at year one with a D-grade ROI. The institutional mission and career tracks attract students called to helping professions; those students should model the debt load explicitly given the earnings ceilings in many social service and health aide fields.
How Springfield College scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- ROI Score36/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- Payback period20.1 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Springfield College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $45,174/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $45,174/yr |
| Average net price | $30,587/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $122,348 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $48,036 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $40,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,250 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $278 |
| Estimated payback period | 20.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 74.2% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,751 |
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: $45,174/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $30,587/year, or roughly $122,348 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 $22,519/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $34,461/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $26,250, which works out to about $278 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($40,700) and comes to 0.65, 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 | $22,519 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $22,295 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $23,364 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $27,470 |
| $110,001+ | $34,461 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $22,519 net per year at Springfield College - relatively high for low-income families given the 20.1-year payback period. The 74.2% completion rate is a positive, but the debt load and earnings ceiling are significant risk factors for low-income students.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $23,364 per year, and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $27,470. The aid structure compresses costs slightly across the middle-income range. Total four-year costs of $93,000-$110,000 come against $40,700 average 6-year earnings; rehabilitation, allied health, and criminal justice are the exceptions. Middle-income families should model income-driven repayment from the start if enrolling.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000 or more pay $34,461 net per year. At full cost, the 20.1-year payback period makes Springfield College a difficult investment purely by financial metrics. For high-income families, the value rests on the institution's distinctive Humanics mission and strong human services vocational preparation rather than earnings optimization. Students targeting rehabilitation science or physical therapy graduate programs may find the undergraduate foundation valuable enough to justify the cost.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Springfield College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $54,181 | D |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $69,355 | B |
| Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment | $86,056 | D |
| Psychology | $49,255 | D |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $76,417 | F |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $60,494 | C |
| Communication and Media Studies | $50,506 | D |
| Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other | $89,140 | B+ |
| Business Administration and Management | $71,807 | - |
| Education, General | $53,222 | 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.
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (79 graduates) earns $69,355 at four years with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.389 (ROI grade B). Year-one data is unavailable, but the four-year earnings figure is strong for this field. This category covers physical therapy assistants, occupational therapy assistants, and related roles that typically require graduate training for full licensure - the four-year earnings likely reflect students who have proceeded to graduate programs. For students planning an OT or PT master's track, Springfield's strong Humanics tradition provides relevant preparation.
Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment
Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment (45 graduates) earns $28,487 at year one but $86,056 at four years, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.948 (ROI grade D). The dramatic year-one to year-four jump suggests these students are predominantly going to graduate school or entering clinical programs after a year of lower-paid work. The D grade reflects the high debt and low year-one earnings, not the long-term career trajectory. Students in this field should plan explicitly for graduate training and model total debt across both degrees.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice (26 graduates) earns $41,441 at year one and $60,494 at four years, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.615 (ROI grade C). Year-one earnings of $41,441 are the second-highest in the catalog, and the four-year trajectory is reasonable. Median debt of $25,500 against $41,441 in starting earnings is serviceable with disciplined repayment. Criminal justice is one of the stronger financial paths at Springfield's price point.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology and Exercise Science (97 graduates) is Springfield's largest program and produces $34,191 at year one and $54,181 at four years, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.790 (ROI grade D). Median debt of $27,000 against $34,191 in starting earnings creates a tight repayment environment. Many kinesiology graduates pursue graduate training in physical therapy, athletic training, or strength and conditioning - those who do will see their earnings trajectory improve, but they will also add graduate debt. Students should plan accordingly.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 58.8% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 64.6% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 60.1% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 64.8% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Springfield 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 | 71.9% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 510-640 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 570-690 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 27-29 |
| Enrollment | 1,751 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 22.4% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,245 |
At 71.9% acceptance, Springfield is broadly accessible for most qualified applicants. The ACT composite range of 27-29 is relatively tight, suggesting the college attracts students who are academically capable but vocationally focused on specific human services fields. Net price of $30,587 is the critical financial variable: against $40,700 in average 6-year earnings, the 20.1-year payback is long. Students should run the net price calculator and model income-driven repayment proactively.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
The Humanics philosophy creates a distinctive culture that is genuinely differentiating - students who align with that mission and select health professional or rehabilitation tracks have the most defensible financial case.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield College (this school) | 36 | $30,587 | $48,036 |
| Amherst College | 90 | $23,367 | $77,644 |
| Felician University | 40 | $40,045 | $57,602 |
| American International College | 38 | $23,274 | $53,124 |
| Texas Wesleyan University | 37 | $24,066 | $54,053 |
| United Talmudical Seminary | 26 | $6,640 | $25,113 |
Who Thrives Here
Springfield College admits 71.9% of applicants, with SAT mid-ranges of 510-640 Math and 570-690 Reading, and ACT composite 27-29. Enrollment is 1,751. The campus is residential and mission-driven - the Humanics philosophy means most students enter majors oriented toward physical education, athletic training, rehabilitation, social work, and community service. Pell rate of 22.4% is moderate. Students who fit Springfield best are those with a vocational commitment to health, human services, or physical education and who understand that these career fields have real earnings ceilings relative to business or engineering.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, Springfield College scores 36/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $30,587 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $48,036 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 20.1 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What it has going for it: its 74.2% graduation rate. What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 64.6% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $26,250 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $40,700 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65. 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.
Springfield College: Common Questions
Is Springfield College worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. Springfield College scores 36/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $30,587 a year after aid against $48,036 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 20.1 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does Springfield 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 $30,587 a year, or roughly $122,348 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 Springfield College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $48,036 ten years after enrolling, roughly $6,236 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 Springfield 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 20.1 years for Springfield College. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Springfield College graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $26,250, against average earnings of $40,700 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65. 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 Springfield College?
The six-year graduation rate is 74.2%, 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.