Stephens College
Columbia, Missouri · Private Nonprofit · 77.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 20/100 · Poor Value
Stephens College, a small (391 students) private liberal arts and performing arts college in Columbia, Missouri with strong historical roots as a women's college, scores 20 (Poor Value tier). The financial picture is genuinely difficult: sticker tuition of $28,300, average net price of $23,459 (modest discounting), and four-year cost of $93,836. Median earnings six years out are $33,600, climbing slowly to $43,071 by year ten - a flat earnings curve reflecting the school's heavy concentration in performing arts, theater, and creative disciplines. Median federal debt is $27,000, and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.80 (sub-score 15) is concerning. The 29-year payback period (sub-score 18) is among the longest in this batch. Completion rate of 42.7% (sub-score 25) is weak. Three-year repayment rate of 71.4% is mediocre. Earnings premium of 0.09 (sub-score 16) is well below benchmark. The honest read: Stephens preserves a distinctive women-focused (formally co-ed since 2022) educational mission with strong fashion design, theater, and equestrian programs, but the labor-market outcomes for those disciplines combined with high cost produce a structurally difficult ROI. Students choosing Stephens are buying institutional culture and specialized arts training; they should expect long payback timelines and plan accordingly. The two reported programs (drama and health admin) both grade F, which signals the institutional outcomes problem clearly.
The data raises concerns about Stephens College
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score20/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Payback period29 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Stephens College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $28,300/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $28,300/yr |
| Average net price | $23,459/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $93,836 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $43,071 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $33,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 29 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 42.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 391 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Stephens College is $28,300/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $23,459/year, or roughly $93,836 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $9,918/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $29,787/year.
The median graduate leaves with $27,000 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $286 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $43,071 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.80 - 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 | $9,918 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $14,796 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $18,547 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $25,644 |
| $110,001+ | $29,787 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $9,918 net annually, totaling about $39,672 over four years - one of the more aggressive low-income discounts in this batch and a real value for Pell-eligible students. The risk is the 42.7% completion rate combined with weak post-graduation earnings; even with the discount, students who don't finish or who enter low-wage creative fields face difficult math.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-$75,000) pay $18,547 per year, about $74,188 over four years. The aid drop-off from the lower brackets is steep, and middle-income families absorb a meaningful cost increase without proportionate earnings benefit on the back end.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
High-income families ($110,001+) pay $29,787 per year, totaling $119,148 across four years - exceeding the published sticker tuition because room/board and fees are included. For high-income families, the cost-to-outcomes ratio is decisively poor unless the student has a clear high-talent creative-arts career trajectory.
Earnings by Major
Top 2 most popular majors at Stephens College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $35,235 | F |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $79,407 | F |
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.
Health and Medical Administrative Services
Health and Medical Administrative Services produces 7 graduates per year with $48,584 starting earnings, $79,407 at 4 years, and an extraordinary $48,781 in median debt - nearly double the school average. The 1.00 debt-to-earnings ratio earns an F grade. Despite reasonable starting earnings and strong 4-year ramp, the debt load is so heavy it produces structural payback failure. This program's debt level is a serious concern.
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Drama/Theatre Arts produces 14 graduates with $16,476 starting earnings, $35,235 at 4 years, $27,000 in median debt, and a 1.64 debt-to-earnings ratio for an F grade. Theater careers are notoriously slow-ramp, and the data shows graduates earning less than half of their initial debt at year one. The earnings curve does improve substantially by year four, but the financial math is structurally difficult unless students have outlier success or pivot to industry-adjacent roles.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 62.8% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 71.4% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 66.4% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 72.5% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 77.2% |
| Enrollment | 391 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 45.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,780 |
Stephens admits 77.2% of applicants. SAT and ACT data are not reported, consistent with the school's audition/portfolio-driven admissions for fashion, theater, and creative tracks. The 42.7% completion rate is the central issue - small cohort sizes, financial pressure on a heavily working-class student body (45% Pell), and the specialized nature of the curriculum produce significant attrition. Selectivity is moderate; persistence is the institutional concern.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Stephens' peer set includes Avila University (Catholic Kansas City), Mission University, Caribbean University-Ponce, Maine College of Art and Design (a closer specialty match), and Southwestern Christian. Maine College of Art and Design is the most useful direct comparison - another small specialty institution with similar earnings constraints and high cost. Avila is a useful Missouri-private benchmark. Within this peer set, Stephens posts roughly average outcomes; the tier as a whole faces structural ROI challenges driven by program mix.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stephens College (this school) | 20 | $23,459 | $43,071 |
| Mary Baldwin University | 25 | $12,756 | $44,427 |
| Wesleyan College | 24 | $12,724 | $44,317 |
| Midway University | 24 | $29,579 | $44,246 |
| Converse University | 21 | $23,283 | $40,867 |
| Hollins University | 21 | $20,896 | $40,075 |
Who Thrives Here
Stephens fits the highly motivated student committed to fashion, theater, equestrian science, or related performing/creative arts disciplines. Pell rate of 45.2% indicates a working-class student body. Enrollment of 391 makes this a very small institution. The fit case is strongest for students with audition-tested talent and clear creative-industry career trajectories who value the school's small-class instruction and preserved women-centered legacy. Students should be deliberate: Stephens is not the right financial choice for someone uncertain about creative-arts career paths, but it provides genuine craft training for those committed.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Stephens College. With a net cost of $23,459 per year and median graduate earnings of only $43,071 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 29 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 42.7% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $27,000 against $43,071 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.