Wofford College
Spartanburg, South Carolina · Private Nonprofit · 51.9% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 81/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Wofford College scores 81 (Strong Value) on the CampusROI scale - a competitive result for a small liberal arts college in the Southeast. The 84.2% completion rate and 6.3-year payback period are the clearest positives; both place Wofford above the average for small private-nonprofit colleges. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.597 earns only a score of 52, reflecting the relatively high debt load against those earnings. Finance is the standout program at 62 graduates ($57,335 year-one, C+ grade), while Biology earns an F grade at a 1.071 debt-to-earnings ratio - 96 graduates borrowing a median $26,000 to enter early careers averaging $24,287. At $56,005 sticker tuition, Wofford's aggressive merit aid discounting brings most students' net price well below that figure, but the $25,732 median debt still accumulates during those years.
Wofford College scores in the top 13% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
Wofford College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $56,005/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $56,005/yr |
| Average net price | $18,732/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $74,928 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $68,964 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $43,100 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,732 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $273 |
| Estimated payback period | 6.3 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 84.2% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,816 |
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: $56,005/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $18,732/year, or roughly $74,928 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 $8,493/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $23,770/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $25,732, which works out to about $273 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($43,100) and comes to 0.60, 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 | $8,493 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $11,627 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $10,830 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $19,092 |
| $110,001+ | $23,770 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families in the $0-$30,000 bracket pay $8,493 per year at Wofford - the lowest in the aid schedule and genuinely affordable. The $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $11,627. These are strong aid outcomes for a private institution with $56,005 sticker tuition. Low-income students who complete Wofford (84.2% chance) will access earnings that compare well against their starting cost. The completion rate is the most important variable for this group.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $10,830 per year - actually lower than the bracket above it, an unusual inversion suggesting particularly strong aid for this income band. The $75,001-$110,000 bracket jumps to $19,092. Middle-income families above $75,000 face a steeper share of cost. Given the 6.3-year payback, the math works over a ten-year horizon for most fields, but the debt load needs active management.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $23,770 per year at Wofford - roughly $95,000 over four years. Against $43,100 average 6-year earnings, full-pay students in lower-earning majors face a genuinely long recovery horizon. Families in this bracket should carefully evaluate the field of study before committing, as outcomes vary sharply from Finance (F grade ROI) down to Biology (F grade).
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Wofford College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | $61,484 | F |
| Finance and Financial Management | $79,643 | C+ |
| Psychology | $52,046 | D |
| Romance Languages | $61,200 | C |
| Business Information Systems | $78,906 | - |
| International Relations | $68,661 | D |
| Accounting | $78,576 | C+ |
| English Language and Literature | $58,036 | D |
| Natural Resources Conservation | $55,044 | C+ |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $43,428 | 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.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance is Wofford's best-performing program by graduate volume and earnings: 62 graduates, $57,335 year-one, $79,643 at year four, with median debt of $27,000 and a C+ grade (debt-to-earnings 0.471). Graduates enter regional finance and banking roles. The four-year trajectory to nearly $80,000 is reasonable, though median debt exceeds what a strong program would carry at these earnings levels.
Accounting
Accounting at Wofford produces 24 graduates, $51,552 year-one, $78,576 at year four, with median debt of $26,924 and a C+ grade (debt-to-earnings 0.522). This is a workable but not strong return. Accounting at a small liberal arts college tends to place graduates into regional public accounting firms and corporate roles. The debt burden relative to starting earnings is a meaningful consideration.
Psychology
Psychology earns a D-grade ROI: 47 graduates, $34,429 year-one, $52,046 at year four, with median debt of $25,763 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.748. At these earnings, graduating with $25,763 in debt is a material burden. Students choosing psychology at Wofford should plan for graduate or professional school - the undergraduate credential alone produces weak near-term earnings outcomes at this institution.
Biology
Biology is the largest program at 96 graduates and the worst-performing by ROI: $24,287 year-one earnings, $61,484 at year four, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.071 (F grade). Median debt of $26,000 against $24,287 in starting earnings means most biology graduates owe more than an entire year's salary. The vast majority of this cohort is likely headed to graduate or professional school, which explains the low year-one figure - but students should price in additional years of education cost before committing.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 75.9% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 83.7% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 82.0% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 87.6% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Wofford 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 | 51.9% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 590-663 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 608-680 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 27-31 |
| Enrollment | 1,816 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 15.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,083 |
Wofford admits just over half of applicants, placing it in the moderately selective range. SAT 590-680 Math and 608-680 Reading represent the mid-range; ACT 27-31 is the parallel window. Applicants with strong academic records from selective high schools will generally be competitive. Wofford's admissions office is known to prioritize demonstrated interest, so campus visits and direct engagement matter. Merit scholarships are significant in reducing the $56,005 sticker price.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Wofford's ROI score is 81 and its completion rate is 84.2%.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wofford College (this school) | 81 | $18,732 | $68,964 |
| Union College | 85 | $34,561 | $88,604 |
| DePauw University | 78 | $22,264 | $70,527 |
| Rhodes College | 73 | $28,585 | $66,651 |
| Anderson University | 24 | $23,544 | $42,101 |
| Allen University | 3 | $10,972 | $30,497 |
Who Thrives Here
Wofford admits 51.9% of applicants. SAT mid-ranges are 590-663 Math and 608-680 Reading; ACT composite 27-31. The small enrollment of 1,816 students creates a genuinely tight-knit campus. Pell grant rate of 15.6% is low, indicating Wofford's student body is predominantly from middle- to upper-income families. Students drawn to a traditional residential liberal arts experience with strong completion rates and Spartanburg's mid-sized Southern city setting will find a coherent campus community. Business-oriented students fare best in earnings outcomes; humanities and biology students should plan for graduate education.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, Wofford College pays off. You'd pay about $18,732 a year after aid ($74,928 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $68,964 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 6.3 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 84.2% graduation rate, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $25,732 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $43,100 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60, 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.
Wofford College: Common Questions
Is Wofford College worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Wofford College pays off. It scores 81/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $18,732 a year after aid ($74,928 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $68,964 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 6.3 years to earn back.
How much does Wofford College 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 $18,732 a year, or roughly $74,928 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 Wofford College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $68,964 ten years after enrolling, roughly $27,164 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 Wofford 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 6.3 years for Wofford College. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Wofford College graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,732, against average earnings of $43,100 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60. 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 Wofford College?
The six-year graduation rate is 84.2%, 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.