Transylvania University
Lexington, Kentucky · Private Nonprofit · 86.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 51/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Transylvania University is a small private liberal arts college of 1,005 students in Lexington, Kentucky. The ROI score of 51 - Below Average Value - reflects a genuine mismatch between cost and outcomes. Net price of $21,913 per year looks reasonable, but median debt of $27,000 against six-year earnings of $34,400 produces a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.785 and an 11.6-year payback period. Transylvania has a 167-year history and strong regional name recognition in Kentucky, but the earnings data tells a story of graduates entering labor markets that do not pay a premium for the credential alone. Accounting is the strongest-performing program in earnings terms; Business Administration and Psychology show troubling debt-to-earnings ratios in the D-range.
Transylvania University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $46,870/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $46,870/yr |
| Average net price | $21,913/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $87,652 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $54,705 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $34,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 11.6 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 71.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,005 |
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: $46,870/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $21,913/year, or roughly $87,652 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 $14,551/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $29,312/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $27,000, which works out to about $286 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($34,400) and comes to 0.79, 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 | $14,551 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $14,555 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $19,272 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $22,155 |
| $110,001+ | $29,312 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $14,551 per year net - the lowest bracket at Transylvania. For a low-income household, this is still a substantial commitment: over $58,000 for four years against a median 10-year earnings figure of $54,705.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $30-48k bracket pays nearly the same at $14,555 - essentially flat with the lowest income tier, a positive sign. The $48-75k bracket steps up to $19,272, and $75-110k reaches $22,155. The slope from low to upper-middle is moderate. Families earning $48-75k spend roughly $77,000 over four years at net price - feasible but only if the student pursues a program with meaningful earnings outcomes.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning over $110k pay $29,312 per year - about $117,000 over four years. With the school-wide debt-to-earnings ratio at 0.785 and median 10-year earnings of $54,705, high-income families paying near-sticker should be cautious.
Earnings by Major
Top 4 most popular majors at Transylvania University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $50,790 | C+ |
| Business Administration and Management | $64,290 | D |
| Accounting | $70,822 | C+ |
| Romance Languages | $42,439 | 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.
Accounting
Accounting is the strongest ROI program at Transylvania by earnings, producing 12 graduates per year. Early-career median pay of $58,803 growing to $70,822 by year four reflects standard public accounting and industry accounting demand in the Lexington-Louisville-Cincinnati triangle. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.459 (C+ grade) with $27,000 in debt is not ideal, but it is far better than the school-wide 0.785 figure. CPA exam passage is the primary value driver - Transylvania's small size allows for personalized exam preparation support.
Business Administration and Management
Business Administration graduates 26 students annually. Early-career pay of $31,614 rising to $64,290 by year four shows a significant earnings arc, but the year-one figure is low and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.824 (D grade) signals serious near-term financial stress. Graduates carry $26,044 in median debt on $31,614 in first-year earnings. This is a program where the financial outcome is largely driven by what employers graduates connect with - and in central Kentucky, the starting salary market for general business graduates is not strong.
Psychology
Psychology produces 28 graduates annually. Four-year median earnings of $50,790 with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.532 (C+ grade) and $27,000 in median debt. This program functions primarily as a pre-professional track - most graduates who achieve good outcomes do so by continuing to graduate programs in clinical, counseling, or educational psychology. At the bachelor's degree level, a psychology degree from a small liberal arts college in Lexington does not command a wage premium. Students need a clear post-graduation plan before choosing this path.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 75.6% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 80.1% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 81.9% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 85.1% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Transylvania University’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 | 86.6% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 540-690 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 580-690 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 24-30 |
| Enrollment | 1,005 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 26.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $10,145 |
An 87% acceptance rate makes Transylvania functionally non-selective for college-ready applicants. The ACT middle 50% of 24-30 covers a wide range. Admission is accessible; the harder question is whether the financial package offered will limit borrowing to sustainable levels.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transylvania University (this school) | 51 | $21,913 | $54,705 |
| Bay Path University | 52 | $14,271 | $55,383 |
| Heritage University | 51 | $14,598 | $49,416 |
| Central College | 49 | $23,377 | $54,317 |
| Asbury University | 29 | $21,401 | $42,368 |
| Alice Lloyd College | 18 | $18,600 | $40,573 |
Who Thrives Here
Transylvania admits 87% of applicants, with ACT 24-30 and SAT math 540-690, reading 580-690. The Pell rate of 26% indicates moderate economic diversity. Students who thrive here tend to value small-class mentorship, close relationships with faculty, and a tight-knit campus community in Lexington. The clearest financial pathway involves Accounting or pre-professional tracks. Students focused on liberal arts for its own sake should weigh the 11.6-year payback period against their own risk tolerance.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Transylvania University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $21,913 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $54,705 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 11.6 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What it has going for it: its 71.5% graduation rate. What to keep an eye on: a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.79 (median across the schools we score: 0.61).
Median debt of $27,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $34,400 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.79. 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.
Transylvania University: Common Questions
Is Transylvania University worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Transylvania University scores 51/100 on our ROI scale. At $21,913 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $54,705 ten years after entry, so it takes about 11.6 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Transylvania University 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 $21,913 a year, or roughly $87,652 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 Transylvania University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $54,705 ten years after enrolling, roughly $12,905 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 Transylvania University?
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 11.6 years for Transylvania University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Transylvania University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $27,000, against average earnings of $34,400 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.79. 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 Transylvania University?
The six-year graduation rate is 71.5%, 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.