At $25,857/yr net price, Colby-Sawyer College graduates earn $46,474/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $12,474/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $25,857 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $103,428 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $46,474/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$12,474/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 8.3 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 61.6% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $27,000 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $14,570/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $17,323/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $19,084/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $27,562/yr |
| $110,001+ | $30,198/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $65,796 | $27,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Bachelor | $47,260 | $27,000 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services. | Bachelor | $45,500 | |
| Communication and Media Studies. | Bachelor | $37,568 | |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Bachelor | $36,134 | |
| Public Health. | Bachelor | $35,060 | |
| Biology, General. | Bachelor | $33,138 | $26,160 |
| Psychology, General. | Bachelor | $32,391 | $27,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | Bachelor | $31,495 | |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | Bachelor | $29,685 |
The Risk Factor
61.6% of students at Colby-Sawyer College graduate within 6 years. A significant share of students finish, but roughly 38% do not complete their degree.
Analysis
Colby-Sawyer College gives you a mixed financial return that depends almost entirely on your major. Nursing is the clear winner here, paying nearly $20,000 more per year than business administration, the next-best program on this list. If you graduate as a registered nurse, your earnings comfortably clear the debt you take on. If you pick almost anything else, the math gets tight fast.
The weak spots are real. Communication and media studies and allied health diagnostic graduates both earn under $38,000 while carrying the same $27,000 median debt as nursing grads who out-earn them by nearly $30,000. That debt does not shrink because your degree pays less. A business degree at $47,260 lands in the middle, workable but not strong for a private-college price.
The main risk is graduating in a low-paying program at private-school cost. The median earnings across all graduates sit at $46,474, which tells you the non-nursing majors pull the school's outcome down. A 61.6% graduation rate also means a real chance you leave with debt and no degree, which is the worst financial outcome available here.
This school pays off if you commit to nursing or health administration and finish. If you are drawn to communication or the softer allied health tracks, a cheaper public option will get you similar earnings with less debt.
On price, families earning under $30,000 pay roughly half the sticker rate, and the discount holds through the $48,000 income band. Above $75,000, the aid drops sharply, and families over $110,000 pay close to full freight. If you are in that top tier and not headed for nursing, the return does not justify the cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Colby-Sawyer College worth the cost?
Colby-Sawyer College's ROI is mixed - nursing graduates earn strong salaries around $65,796, but most other programs lead to below-average earnings of $46,474 ten years after graduation. The $25,857 annual net price creates a challenging payback period for non-nursing majors.
What are the best paying majors at Colby-Sawyer College?
Nursing programs at Colby-Sawyer College offer the strongest financial returns, with graduates earning around $65,796 annually. Business majors earn about $47,260, while communication and allied health graduates typically earn in the mid-to-upper $30,000s.
How much student debt do Colby-Sawyer College graduates have?
Colby-Sawyer College graduates leave with a median debt of $27,000, which is manageable for nursing majors but may be challenging for graduates in lower-paying fields. The debt-to-income ratio varies significantly depending on your major choice.
What is the graduation rate at Colby-Sawyer College?
Colby-Sawyer College has a 61.6% graduation rate, meaning about 4 in 10 students don't finish their degree. This completion risk adds to the financial uncertainty, especially for students in programs with weaker job market outcomes.