At $23,722/yr net price, Defiance College graduates earn $49,351/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $15,351/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $23,722 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $94,888 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $49,351/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$15,351/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 6.2 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 36.7% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $26,813 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $19,929/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $21,601/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $24,386/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $24,726/yr |
| $110,001+ | $28,092/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $39,153 | |
| Accounting and Related Services. | Bachelor | $36,848 | |
| Business/Commerce, General. | Bachelor | $34,704 | $27,000 |
| Education, General. | Master | $34,603 | |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. | Bachelor | $33,993 | |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness. | Bachelor | $27,488 | $27,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. | Bachelor | $25,194 |
The Risk Factor
36.7% of students at Defiance College graduate within 6 years. Fewer than half of students complete their degree. If you don't graduate, the financial investment may not pay off.
Analysis
Defiance College is a financially risky bet. You pay $23,722 a year at sticker, but the median graduate earns $49,351 a decade out, and the school-wide numbers hide a worse problem: every bachelor's program with reported earnings pays below that median. Accounting, the top earner here, starts graduates near $37,000. That gap tells you the strong median comes from a handful of paths, not the programs Defiance is built around.
The math gets uncomfortable fast. Only 37 of every 100 students finish, and just 61 come back after freshman year. If you borrow the typical $26,813 and land in teacher education at roughly $25,000 a year, or health and physical education near $27,500, your debt nearly equals a full year of early pay. Business and criminal justice sit in the low-to-mid $30,000s. Accounting is your best shot at making the debt manageable.
This school works financially if you commit to accounting or general business and actually graduate. If you're drawn to teacher education or fitness, the reported earnings don't cover what you'll owe, and you should price out cheaper in-state options first.
The net price tiers reward lower-income families unevenly. Under $30,000 in household income, you pay about $19,929. over $110,000, you pay $28,092. But even the lowest tier isn't cheap against these earnings, and aid doesn't erase the core issue that most listed majors start below $37,000.
The biggest risk here isn't the sticker price. It's paying for years you may not finish, since barely a third of students walk away with a degree. Enroll only if you're confident you'll graduate and you're aiming at the accounting or business track. Otherwise, the debt outruns the payoff.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Defiance College worth the cost for most students?
With median earnings of $49,351 ten years after graduation and a net price of $23,722 annually, Defiance College provides moderate returns that may not justify the cost for many students. The 37% graduation rate means most students don't finish their degree, making the investment particularly risky.
What are the highest paying majors at Defiance College?
Business Administration leads with $39,153 in median earnings, followed by Accounting at $36,848. However, even the top-earning programs at Defiance College pay significantly less than national averages for college graduates.
How much student debt do Defiance College graduates typically have?
Graduates leave with a median debt of $26,813, which represents a manageable debt-to-income ratio given typical starting salaries. The bigger concern is the low graduation rate, meaning many students accumulate debt without earning a degree.
Does Defiance College have good job placement after graduation?
With ten-year median earnings around $49,000 across programs, Defiance College graduates earn less than the national average for college graduates. The low graduation rate of 37% suggests many students struggle to complete their programs and enter the job market with a degree.