Trine University
Angola, Indiana · Private Nonprofit · 85.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 52/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Trine University scores 52 (Below Average Value) on the CampusROI scale. The school is an engineering-focused private in Angola, Indiana (2,324 enrollment) with $36,560 sticker tuition and a $25,355 net price. The institutional score understates the program-level engineering strength: $40,000 average 6-year earnings and a 10.9-year payback are driven down by lower-earning programs. Engineering disciplines dominate the program data and all earn B grades: Electrical Engineering ($73,923 year-one), Chemical Engineering ($72,875), Biomedical Engineering ($67,702), Mechanical Engineering ($66,816, 43 graduates), Civil Engineering ($65,700), and Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies ($65,013, 41 graduates). These programs produce strong entry-level outcomes relative to the $25,355 net price. The problem is Kinesiology: 59 graduates earn $25,812 year-one with an F grade and debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.046 at median debt of $27,000. The 15.6% Pell grant rate is notably low, indicating Trine's student body is predominantly from middle-to-upper income families. The 64.4% completion rate is adequate. SAT and ACT data are not reported. Trine's identity is primarily an engineering college; the data confirms that engineering graduates in Angola's reach of Indiana's manufacturing, automotive, and technology sectors are well-served by the institution.
Trine University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $36,560/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $36,560/yr |
| Average net price | $25,355/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $101,420 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $57,165 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $40,000 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $265 |
| Estimated payback period | 10.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 64.4% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,324 |
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: $36,560/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $25,355/year, or roughly $101,420 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 $19,661/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $29,066/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $25,000, which works out to about $265 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($40,000) and comes to 0.63, 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 | $19,661 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $20,470 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $19,463 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $24,031 |
| $110,001+ | $29,066 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 bracket pays $19,661 per year - roughly $78,600 over four years. For engineering students who complete, year-one earnings of $65k-$74k on $27,000 in debt is a strong outcome at this cost. The 15.6% Pell rate means few Trine students come from this bracket. For the low-income students who do enroll, program selection is critical: engineering students have a clear path; kinesiology and social science students do not.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families pay $19,463 (48001-75000 bracket) to $24,031 (75001-110000 bracket). The 0-30000 and 48001-75000 brackets are nearly identical ($19,661 and $19,463), which is unusual. Engineering graduates in this cost range have a workable ROI case. Non-engineering students face a harder financial justification.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $29,066 per year - about $116,000 over four years. At this cost, engineering graduates earning $65k-$74k year-one face a payback period of roughly 6-8 years for the engineering programs specifically.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Trine University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $58,816 | F |
| Mechanical Engineering | $86,997 | B |
| Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $77,517 | B |
| Biology | $52,806 | C |
| Civil Engineering | $78,808 | B |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $48,877 | D |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $78,520 | - |
| Biomedical Engineering | $67,702 | B |
| Chemical Engineering | $88,192 | B |
| Psychology | $46,798 | 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.
Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering (12 graduates) earns $73,923 year-one and $92,945 at year four (B grade, debt-to-earnings 0.365, median debt $27,000). Year-one of $74k is strong for northeast Indiana engineering employment. Four-year trajectory to $93k shows solid progression. The B grade reflects efficient debt relative to earnings.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering (43 graduates) earns $66,816 year-one and $86,997 at year four (B grade, debt-to-earnings 0.404, median debt $27,000). The largest engineering cohort by graduates. Year-one of $67k is strong for Indiana's manufacturing and automotive sector. Four-year figure of $87k reflects typical ME career progression. Debt-to-earnings of 0.404 at $25,355 net price per year is manageable. Mechanical engineering at Trine delivers the institution's strongest volume outcome.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (9 graduates) earns $43,504 year-one and $57,055 at year four (C+ grade, debt-to-earnings 0.534, median debt $23,250). The C+ grade reflects adequate but not efficient returns at Trine's cost level. Small cohort of 9 limits reliability. Business students at Trine should assess whether the engineering-focused campus culture and Angola location align with their career targets.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology (59 graduates, one of the larger cohorts) earns $25,812 year-one and $58,816 at year four (F grade, debt-to-earnings 1.046, median debt $27,000). Year-one earnings of $25k against $27,000 in debt is a high debt-to-earnings ratio. The F grade accurately captures this mismatch. The four-year trajectory to $59k shows eventual improvement, but the early financial period is severe. At $36,560 tuition, Kinesiology at Trine is a high-cost credential for a low-wage entry point. Students should assess whether a kinesiology degree from a rural Indiana private is competitive for the career paths they have in mind.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 68.5% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 72.5% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 64.0% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 70.8% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Trine 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 | 85.5% |
| Enrollment | 2,324 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 15.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,043 |
At 85.5%, Trine is broadly accessible. No standardized test data is reported. Engineering programs at Trine have ABET accreditation, which is the relevant credential quality signal for students and employers.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trine University (this school) | 52 | $25,355 | $57,165 |
| Otterbein University | 53 | $19,237 | $53,313 |
| The University of Findlay | 52 | $27,221 | $56,996 |
| Hawaii Pacific University | 48 | $29,657 | $59,593 |
| Bethel University | 34 | $18,610 | $48,860 |
| Anderson University | 32 | $25,021 | $48,899 |
Who Thrives Here
Trine admits 85.5% of applicants and reports no SAT or ACT data to the Scorecard. Enrollment is 2,324. Engineering is clearly the school's core strength and identity. Students seeking engineering credentials within reach of Fort Wayne, South Bend, and the broader Great Lakes manufacturing corridor will find Trine's industry connections relevant.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Trine University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $25,355 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $57,165 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 10.9 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.
Median debt of $25,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $40,000 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Trine University: Common Questions
Is Trine University worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Trine University scores 52/100 on our ROI scale. At $25,355 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $57,165 ten years after entry, so it takes about 10.9 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Trine 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 $25,355 a year, or roughly $101,420 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 Trine University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $57,165 ten years after enrolling, roughly $15,365 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 Trine 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 10.9 years for Trine University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Trine University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,000, against average earnings of $40,000 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Trine University?
The six-year graduation rate is 64.4%, 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.