Stillman College
Tuscaloosa, Alabama · Private Nonprofit · 62.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 6/100 · Poor Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Stillman College is a historically Black liberal arts college in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, affiliated with the Presbyterian Church USA, serving approximately 706 students. The data present a serious financial warning: the roiScore of 6 (Poor Value) is among the lowest in our database. Median earnings six years after enrollment are $24,900 - barely above the federal poverty line for a small family - while the median student debt is $29,067, producing a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.167, meaning graduates owe more than a full year's earnings. The payback period is listed as 477.5 years, reflecting a situation where, at current earnings levels, loan repayment is effectively untenable for the median borrower. Only 25% of students complete their degree within the standard measurement window, and just 35.8% of borrowers are actively reducing their loan principal three years after leaving school. Nearly 76% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a heavily low-income student body. These figures demand candid evaluation: Stillman's HBCU mission and community significance are real, but the financial data suggest that students need substantial improvement in institutional support structures - particularly completion and post-graduation earnings - before the financial case for enrollment becomes defensible.
The data raises concerns about Stillman College
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score6/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Debt-to-earnings1.17 - Advisors recommend total student debt stay below one year of salary (ratio under 1.0).
- 6-year graduation rate25.0% - Well below the 64% national average (NCES, 2022). Non-completion is the fastest route to negative ROI.
- Payback period>50 years - Graduates earn at or near the level of high school completers - the cost may not recoup within a working career.
Stillman College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $12,126/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $12,126/yr |
| Average net price | $15,258/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $61,032 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $35,421 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $24,900 |
| Median debt at graduation | $29,067 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $308 |
| Estimated payback period | >50 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 25.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 706 |
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: $12,126/year. Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $15,258/year, or roughly $61,032 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 $14,804/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $19,343/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $29,067 in federal loans, which works out to about $308 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $35,421 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 1.17, which is high - the rule of thumb is that total debt should not top your first-year salary, and this is over that line.
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 | $14,804 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $13,955 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $20,841 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $15,872 |
| $110,001+ | $19,343 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Pell-eligible students (76% of enrollment) face a net price of approximately $14,804 for the lowest income bracket. Even at this relatively low cost, median post-graduation earnings of $24,900 and a 35.8% three-year repayment rate create genuine repayment hardship for the majority of borrowers. Students relying entirely on grants and family support to avoid debt are in the best position; those borrowing the median $29,067 face a debt-to-earnings ratio that signals high default risk.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income students in the $48,001 - $75,000 range face a net price of $20,841 - substantially higher than lower-income brackets despite presumably similar family financial resources. At four years that approaches $83,000 total, against median six-year earnings of $24,900. This combination is financially untenable for most middle-income families unless the student secures external scholarships or completes in the top earnings quartile.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income students would be paying out of pocket at rates of $15,000 - $19,000 per year net, totaling $60,000 - $77,000 for four years. At median earnings of $24,900, the financial calculus is negative regardless of family income level. Higher-income families considering Stillman are presumably motivated by mission, not financial return, and should stress-test the completion and earnings data before committing.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 22.9% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 35.8% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 26.6% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 29.8% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Stillman 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 | 62.3% |
| Enrollment | 706 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 76.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,164 |
Stillman accepts about 62% of applicants. No SAT or ACT score ranges are reported, suggesting holistic or open-access admissions for most applicants. The selectivity level is not the primary risk variable - the 25% completion rate is. Students and families should ask pointed questions about advising, retention programs, and financial aid continuity before enrolling.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Among peer HBCUs and small Southern private colleges such as Lane College and Wiley University, Stillman's completion rate of 25% and debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.167 place it at the most challenging end of the spectrum. Lane College and Wiley post similarly modest earnings but show somewhat higher completion rates. Any student comparing these institutions should prioritize the college with the strongest completion-support infrastructure, as the primary financial risk is leaving without a degree while carrying debt.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stillman College (this school) | 6 | $15,258 | $35,421 |
| Bennett College | 6 | $28,299 | $36,654 |
| Saint Augustine's University | 6 | $24,313 | $35,730 |
| Alabama State University | 5 | $20,435 | $34,502 |
| Mississippi Valley State University | 5 | $9,686 | $31,919 |
| Harris-Stowe State University | 5 | $9,922 | $31,088 |
Who Thrives Here
Stillman College may attract students who value its HBCU heritage, faith-based community, and proximity to the University of Alabama corridor in Tuscaloosa. Prospective students should be clear-eyed about the data: only one in four enrollees completes a degree, and median post-graduation earnings of $24,900 at six years fall below what many students earn without a degree. Students who can secure full grant coverage and have a concrete plan for degree completion represent the best-fit profile.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
We'll be straight with you: the numbers at Stillman College are a real concern. With a net cost of $15,258 per year and the typical graduate earning only $35,421 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds >50 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost - go in with your eyes open.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, its 25.0% graduation rate, high debt relative to what graduates earn, concerning loan repayment rates, a long payback period.
Be careful with the debt here. A median $29,067 owed against $35,421 in earnings is heavy, and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.82 is past the level advisors flag. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Stillman College: Common Questions
Is Stillman College worth it?
In our view, the numbers are a real concern - for most students the financial return does not justify the cost. Stillman College scores 6/100 on our ROI scale. At $15,258 a year after aid against $35,421 in typical earnings ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds >50 years.
How much does Stillman College cost after financial aid?
The average net price - what students actually pay after grants and scholarships - is about $15,258 a year, or roughly $61,032 over four years. That is the number to plan around, not the sticker price. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Stillman College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $35,421 ten years after enrolling, near the $41,800 median for high-school graduates (NCES, 2022). With little earnings gap to cover the cost, the financial return is hard to make.
How long does it take to pay off Stillman 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 >50 years for Stillman College. Most four-year schools we track land between 4 and 10 years.
How much debt do Stillman College graduates take on?
Median debt at graduation is about $29,067, against $35,421 in typical earnings a decade out. At a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.82, that is past the level advisors flag, so how much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Stillman College?
The six-year graduation rate is 25.0%, below the 64% national average (NCES, 2022) - and not finishing is the fastest route to a poor return. 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.