At $22,173/yr net price, Dorsey College-Dearborn graduates earn $29,392/yr within 10 years of enrollment.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $22,173 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $88,692 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $29,392/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | $-4,608/yr |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 27.6% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $13,000 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $22,173/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technology. | Certificate | $26,933 | $13,000 |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants. | Certificate | $23,589 | $13,000 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services. | Certificate | $22,865 | $13,000 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services. | Certificate | $20,572 | $13,000 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions. | Certificate | $19,298 | $13,000 |
The Risk Factor
27.6% of students at Dorsey College-Dearborn 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
The numbers at Dorsey College-Dearborn don't work in your favor. You pay $22,173 a year with no discount for low income, and ten years out the median graduate earns $29,392. That means one year of net price nearly equals a full year of post-graduation pay. For a for-profit two-year school, that gap is the whole story, and it's a bad one.
Every program listed is a certificate, not a degree, so treat these as short vocational credentials. The electrical maintenance and repair certificate tops the list at $26,933, and practical nursing follows at $23,589. Even those two, the best-paying options here, leave you earning barely above what the school charges for a single year. Dental support services sits at the bottom near $19,298. None of these fields, as trained here, produce earnings that clearly outrun your cost.
The specific risk is completion. Only 28 of every 100 students finish. If you borrow and leave without the credential, you carry debt with no certificate to show employers. The typical debt of $13,000 is modest in dollars, but modest debt against sub-$30,000 earnings still bites, and it bites hardest if you're in the 72% who don't graduate.
There's no income-based price break. A family earning under $30,000 pays the same $22,173 as everyone else, so the sticker cost lands heaviest on the households least able to absorb it. With 84% of students receiving Pell Grants, most of you come from exactly those households.
This school makes financial sense only if you already know the specific local employer you're training for and you're confident you'll finish quickly. If you're weighing your options, a community college certificate in the same fields will cost you a fraction of this and leave you with the same job prospects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dorsey College-Dearborn worth the money?
With graduates earning just $29,392 ten years after enrollment and a 27% graduation rate, Dorsey College-Dearborn offers poor return on investment for most students. The low earnings relative to the $22,173 annual cost make it difficult to justify financially.
What are the best paying programs at Dorsey College-Dearborn?
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance Technology offers the highest earnings at $26,933, followed by Practical Nursing at $23,589. However, even the top program pays below the overall graduate average of $29,392.
How much debt do Dorsey College-Dearborn students graduate with?
The median debt is $13,000, which is relatively low compared to many colleges. This lower debt load helps offset some of the financial risk given the modest post-graduation earnings.
What is the graduation rate at Dorsey College-Dearborn?
Only 27.6% of students graduate from Dorsey College-Dearborn. This extremely low completion rate means most students leave without a degree while still owing money for their education.