Talladega College
Talladega, Alabama · Private Nonprofit · 85.4% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 10/100 · Poor Value
Talladega College earns a 10 ROI score (Poor Value), reflecting structurally weak outcomes across nearly every dimension. Earnings premium is negative (-0.045, score 4): graduates earn less on average than typical high-school graduates. The 999-year payback figure means the model projects no year in which lifetime earnings recoup the cost--a structural never-payback case. Debt-to-earnings is 1.178 (sub-score 2), meaning typical debt exceeds typical annual earnings. Completion rate of 30.9% is among the lowest publicly reported. Tuition is $15,650, average net price $15,560, total four-year cost about $62,240. Median earnings of $24,200 at six years grow only to $32,229 at ten--barely above no-college baselines. Median debt is $28,500 with a $302/month payment. As one of America's oldest historically Black colleges, Talladega has deep mission and historical importance that the dollar-value math doesn't capture. But the financial outcomes published here are sobering: most students do not finish, and most who do struggle to repay. Prospective students should weigh the school's mission and community alongside the difficult ROI reality.
The data raises concerns about Talladega College
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score10/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Debt-to-earnings1.18 - Advisors recommend total student debt stay below one year of salary (ratio under 1.0).
- 6-year graduation rate30.9% - Well below the 60% national average. 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.
Talladega College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $15,650/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $15,650/yr |
| Average net price | $15,560/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $62,240 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $32,229 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $24,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $28,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $302 |
| Estimated payback period | >50 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 30.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 701 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Talladega College is $15,650/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $15,560/year, or roughly $62,240 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $12,835/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $22,348/year.
The median graduate leaves with $28,500 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $302 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $32,229 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 1.18 - above the recommended threshold where total debt should not exceed first-year salary.
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 | $12,835 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $14,385 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $14,680 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $18,723 |
| $110,001+ | $22,348 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families at $0-$30,000 pay $12,835 net (~$51K over four years). Pell plus state aid plus institutional grants do meaningful work. But borrowing the $28,500 median against earnings prospects in the $24K-$32K range is an underwater outcome before graduation. The 30.9% completion rate compounds the risk: most enrollees end up with debt and no degree.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
$30,001-$48,000 households pay $14,385 and $48,001-$75,000 pay $14,680--essentially flat across the lower-middle bracket. $75,001-$110,000 pay $18,723. Total four-year cost ranges $58K-$75K. The price-to-earnings math is structurally unworkable at every middle-income tier. Alabama public alternatives (Alabama A&M, UAB, University of Alabama) deliver better outcomes for less.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $22,348 (~$89K over four years). This is the only school in this batch where every income bracket produces an underwater financial outcome based on the published earnings data. High-income families should look elsewhere unless they specifically value the HBCU heritage and are prepared to view the investment as cultural rather than financial.
Earnings by Major
Top 2 most popular majors at Talladega College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $45,520 | F |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $39,266 | 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.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business management is the largest program with 45 graduates and an F grade. First-year earnings of $27,568 grow to $45,520 by year four against $31,125 median debt--a 1.129 debt-to-earnings ratio. The earnings recovery from year 1 to year 4 is real but not enough to flip the program above break-even quickly. Students with business interest should compare against Alabama State or UAB before committing here.
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Liberal arts pulls 21 graduates with a D grade. Year-four earnings of $39,266 against $31,000 median debt yields a 0.789 ratio--still difficult. Without graduate school, this credential under-earns the cost meaningfully. Students should plan a clear pathway to teaching certification, social work, or a graduate program before borrowing.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | N/A | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | N/A | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 21.1% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 18.1% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 85.4% |
| Enrollment | 701 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 66.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,650 |
Talladega admits 85.4% of applicants. SAT and ACT mid-ranges are not reported in current Scorecard data. With a 30.9% completion rate, the institution is admitting many students who do not graduate. Prospective students should consider whether they have the academic preparation and family financial support to make it through, and explore Alabama A&M, Tuskegee, or Alabama State as alternative HBCU options with stronger completion outcomes.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Talladega's peers are other small HBCUs and historically affiliated private colleges in the Deep South: Faulkner University, Huntingdon College, Philander Smith University, Wiley University, Lane College. The cluster shares a difficult ROI profile--all have low completion rates, modest earnings outcomes, and high debt-to-earnings. Talladega's 10 ROI score is at the lower end even within this peer set. Lane College and Wiley have similar profiles; Huntingdon and Faulkner post slightly better completion outcomes.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Talladega College (this school) | 10 | $15,560 | $32,229 |
| Huntingdon College | 29 | $22,566 | $49,601 |
| Faulkner University | 19 | $22,085 | $43,457 |
| Philander Smith University | 10 | $14,224 | $38,427 |
| Wiley University | 5 | $7,092 | $33,159 |
| Lane College | 3 | $10,904 | $31,670 |
Who Thrives Here
Talladega serves a heavily Pell-eligible (66.6%), predominantly Black student body of 701 students drawn primarily from Alabama and the Deep South. The school's HBCU heritage--it was founded in 1867--gives it deep cultural and historical significance for many families. The financial reality is harder: 30.9% completion plus negative earnings premium plus 1.178 debt-to-earnings means most students who enroll experience materially worse financial outcomes than they would have without college. Prospective students should engage carefully with the financial-aid office and consider whether Tuskegee or Alabama A&M might offer the HBCU experience with more sustainable economics.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Talladega College. With a net cost of $15,560 per year and median graduate earnings of only $32,229 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds >50 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 30.9% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn and a long payback period.
Median debt of $28,500 against $32,229 in earnings is concerning. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.88 exceeds the commonly recommended threshold. Major choice is critical here.
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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.