At $6,740/yr net price, Allegheny Wesleyan College graduates earn $37,453/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $3,453/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $6,740 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $26,960 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $37,453/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$3,453/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 7.8 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 40.0% |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $5,047/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $5,491/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $7,101/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $12,346/yr |
The Risk Factor
40.0% of students at Allegheny Wesleyan College graduate within 6 years. More than half of students finish, but the dropout rate is a real factor in whether this investment pays off.
Analysis
Allegheny Wesleyan College gives you a low sticker price and a low payoff. Net price sits under $7,000 a year, but median earnings ten years out land at $37,453 , below what a full-time worker earning the federal minimum wage takes home over the same career stretch. The cheap tuition is the main thing keeping this from being a clear financial loss.
No bachelor-level program earnings are listed, so there's no data showing which majors here pay off and which don't. This is a Bible college in small-town Salem, Ohio, and the career paths it feeds , ministry, missions, church work , are not high-wage fields. If you're picking this school, you're likely doing it for the religious training, not the salary.
The real risk is finishing at all. A 40% graduation rate and a 57% retention rate mean nearly half of first-year students don't come back. Drop out with any debt and you get the cost without the credential, which is the worst financial outcome available here. The low net price limits how much you can lose, but it doesn't erase that risk.
On price by income: if your family earns under $48,000, you pay around $5,000-$5,500 a year, which is genuinely affordable. Cross into the $75,000-$110,000 band and your net price jumps to $12,346 , more than double the lowest tier , while the earnings ceiling stays the same. Higher-income families pay a lot more for the same modest outcome.
This school fits you if you're committed to ministry and want low-cost religious education, and you can accept the earnings that follow. If you're choosing college mainly for financial return, look elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Allegheny Wesleyan College worth the cost?
Allegheny Wesleyan College offers a very low net price at $6,740 per year, but graduates earn just $37,453 after 10 years. With a 40% graduation rate, many students don't finish their degrees, making the investment risky even at a low cost.
What is the return on investment for Allegheny Wesleyan College?
The ROI is poor - graduates earn below the national average at $37,453 annually while many students never graduate. The low tuition doesn't offset the weak earning potential and high dropout risk.
Do Allegheny Wesleyan College graduates struggle with student debt?
While the low net price of $6,740 means less debt accumulation, the bigger problem is the 40% graduation rate and below-average earnings. Students risk taking on debt without completing their degree or earning enough to justify the investment.
Which programs at Allegheny Wesleyan College have the best job prospects?
Specific program data isn't available, but with overall graduate earnings of just $37,453 and a 40% graduation rate, no programs appear to offer strong career outcomes. Students should carefully research job placement rates before enrolling.