At $38,472/yr net price, Butler University graduates earn $77,235/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $43,235/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $38,472 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $153,888 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $77,235/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$43,235/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 3.6 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 80.2% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $26,000 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $28,607/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $31,406/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $36,016/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $39,491/yr |
| $110,001+ | $42,961/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration. | Doctoral | $119,557 | $41,000 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Master | $101,964 | $107,199 |
| Accounting and Related Services. | Master | $64,990 | |
| International Business. | Bachelor | $49,058 | |
| Management Information Systems and Services. | Bachelor | $49,019 | |
| Finance and Financial Management Services. | Bachelor | $43,426 | $23,250 |
| Marketing. | Bachelor | $42,123 | $25,500 |
| Economics. | Bachelor | $40,485 | |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. | Bachelor | $36,183 | $26,870 |
The Risk Factor
80.2% of students at Butler University graduate within 6 years. Most students who start here finish their degree.
Analysis
Butler University gives you a solid but expensive financial deal. At $38,472 a year in net price, you're paying private-school money, but the payoff shows up: median earnings hit $77,235 ten years out, and typical debt sits at $26,000, roughly a third of first-year median earnings for most graduates. The 80% graduation rate and 88% retention mean you're likely to finish and finish on time, which is where most college debt disasters actually start.
The business majors carry the return. International Business and Management Information Systems both land new grads near $49,000, the top of Butler's reported programs, and Finance follows at $43,426 with below-average debt of $23,250. Indianapolis has a real corporate and insurance job base, so these degrees connect to local hiring. Marketing and Economics trail at roughly $42,000 and $40,000 for early-career pay, still workable against Butler's debt load but with less room for error.
The main risk is the sticker price itself. Butler is a pay-a-lot, earn-a-lot school, and the early-career program numbers for its named majors all start in the low-to-mid $40,000s. If you borrow the full median and land in a lower-paying field, the math tightens fast. The strong median at ten years suggests earnings climb, but you carry the debt from day one.
Butler fits you if you're aiming at business, finance, or MIS and can access aid that pulls your real cost down. The net price tiers reward lower incomes: under $30,000 you pay $28,607, while over $110,000 you pay $42,961. That's a $14,000 yearly gap. If you're a full-pay family outside the business tracks, or debt-averse, a strong public university will likely give you more return for less risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Butler University worth the high tuition cost?
Butler's $38,472 annual net price is steep for median earnings of $77,235 after 10 years. The return on investment works best for pharmacy and health programs, which earn $100,000+ annually, but other majors struggle to justify the cost.
What are the best paying majors at Butler University?
Pharmacy leads at $119,557 annually, followed by allied health programs at $101,964. Business majors like accounting ($64,990) and international business ($49,058) earn significantly less despite similar tuition costs.
How much student debt do Butler University graduates have?
Butler graduates carry a median debt of $26,000, which is manageable for pharmacy and health majors but challenging for lower-earning programs. Students in business or liberal arts may struggle with loan payments relative to their starting salaries.
Does Butler University provide good financial aid to reduce costs?
Despite financial aid, Butler's net price remains high at $38,472 annually. The 82% acceptance rate suggests the school may offer aid to attract students, but costs still outpace earnings potential for many programs.