At $16,698/yr net price, Framingham State University graduates earn $52,349/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $18,349/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $16,698 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $66,792 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $52,349/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$18,349/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 3.6 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 49.5% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $25,000 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $10,802/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $11,399/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $15,863/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $21,658/yr |
| $110,001+ | $23,914/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bioethics/Medical Ethics. | Master | $94,408 | |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $76,460 | |
| Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language. | Master | $63,005 | |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. | Master | $58,673 | |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | Bachelor | $52,107 | $25,000 |
| Management Information Systems and Services. | Bachelor | $48,041 | |
| Marketing. | Bachelor | $45,529 | $24,454 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services. | Bachelor | $43,426 | $26,000 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology. | Master | $42,682 | |
| Biology, General. | Bachelor | $38,289 | $22,500 |
The Risk Factor
49.5% of students at Framingham State University 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
Framingham State gives you a middling financial return. Median earnings of $52,349 ten years out sit a bit above the school's net price and land you in solid but not remarkable territory for a Massachusetts public university. The math works if you pick the right major and finish on time, which is not guaranteed here.
Nursing is the clear winner. At $76,460, it pays roughly $24,000 more per year than the next-best program, computer and information sciences at $52,107. If you can get into and complete the nursing track, the Boston-area healthcare market rewards you and the degree covers its cost quickly. Everything else is thinner. Marketing and finance both land in the mid-$40,000s, below the school's overall median, so those degrees earn less than the typical Framingham graduate. Finance carries the heaviest debt load at $26,000 against the lowest pay of the top five, which is the worst cost-to-earnings tradeoff on the list.
The biggest risk is finishing. A 49.5% graduation rate means half of enrollees leave without the degree, and a 71.5% retention rate shows a chunk of that loss happens after year one. If you borrow and drop out, you carry debt with no credential to pay it back. That risk hits harder than the price tag.
The net price tiers favor lower-income families. Under $30k, you pay about $10,800. over $110k, you pay roughly $23,900. The jump between the $48-75k and $75-110k brackets is the steepest, so a middle-class household sees costs climb fast without full-freight sticker prices.
This school fits you if you're targeting nursing or a computing field and you're confident you'll graduate. If you're drawn to marketing or finance, or you're unsure about finishing, weigh the debt carefully before committing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Framingham State University worth the cost?
Framingham State offers decent value for students who choose high-paying programs like nursing ($76,460) or bioethics ($94,408). However, the overall 10-year earnings of $52,349 and 49.5% graduation rate suggest many students struggle to complete their programs and see strong returns.
What are the best paying majors at Framingham State University?
Bioethics/Medical Ethics graduates earn $94,408 annually, while nursing program graduates average $76,460. Education and computer science programs show more modest returns around $52,000-$63,000, closer to the school average.
How much debt do Framingham State University graduates have?
The median debt load is $25,000, which is manageable for nursing and bioethics graduates but creates financial strain for those in lower-paying education tracks. With nearly half of students not graduating, debt without a degree becomes a real risk.
Does Framingham State University have a good graduation rate?
Only 49.5% of students graduate from Framingham State University, meaning roughly half who enroll never finish their degree. This low completion rate significantly undermines the school's value proposition, especially for students taking on debt.