At $23,774/yr net price, Goucher College graduates earn $53,023/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $19,023/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $23,774 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $95,096 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $53,023/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$19,023/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 5 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 60.0% |
| 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 | $13,998/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $14,176/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $22,034/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $27,178/yr |
| $110,001+ | $35,948/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economics. | Bachelor | $46,087 | $25,000 |
| Dance. | Bachelor | $32,925 | |
| Political Science and Government. | Bachelor | $29,685 | |
| Psychology, General. | Bachelor | $28,816 | $26,000 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. | Bachelor | $26,896 | $27,000 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research. | Bachelor | $25,194 | |
| Sociology. | Bachelor | $25,194 | $20,000 |
| English Language and Literature, General. | Bachelor | $20,596 | $26,000 |
The Risk Factor
60.0% of students at Goucher College graduate within 6 years. A significant share of students finish, but roughly 40% do not complete their degree.
Analysis
Goucher's financial picture is weak. You pay a $23,774 net price on average, come out with $26,000 in median debt, and land at $53,023 in median earnings ten years out. That gap between what you owe and what you earn is thin for a private college, and the program-level numbers are worse than the school-wide median suggests.
Economics is the strongest bachelor's payoff listed, but even that starts graduates around $46,000 against $25,000 in debt. Everything else on the list pays less. Dance, political science, psychology, and Romance languages all show early earnings in the high $20,000s to low $30,000s while carrying $25,000 to $27,000 in debt. If you borrow the median and major in psychology or a language, your starting salary barely clears your loan balance. Baltimore's job market gives economics and policy grads a shot at government and finance work, but it won't rescue a dance or languages degree financially.
The retention rate of 77% and 60% graduation rate are the sharpest risks here. Four in ten students who enroll don't finish, and leaving with debt and no degree is the worst outcome you can have. Confirm you're likely to graduate before you commit.
The net price tiers reward lower-income families. If your family earns under $48,000, you pay around $14,000 a year. Above $110,000, you pay nearly $36,000 with no financial upside in the earnings data to justify it.
Goucher fits you if your family income is under $48,000 and you're targeting economics or a policy path in the Baltimore-D.C. corridor. Look elsewhere if you'd pay the top tier, plan to major in the arts or humanities listed here, or aren't confident you'll finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Goucher College worth the cost compared to other schools?
Goucher College graduates earn a median of $53,023 ten years after graduation, which is modest for a net cost of $23,774 per year. The 60% graduation rate means 4 out of 10 students don't finish, creating debt without a degree.
What are the best paying majors at Goucher College?
Economics graduates from Goucher earn about $46,087, making it the strongest financial return among programs. Dance, political science, and psychology majors earn significantly less, between $26,896 and $32,925.
How much debt do Goucher College students graduate with?
Typical Goucher graduates have $26,000 in student loans. With starting salaries around $53,000, this creates a manageable but not ideal debt-to-income ratio for most graduates.
Does Goucher College provide good financial aid to reduce costs?
The net price at Goucher averages $23,774 after aid, which represents significant discounting from the sticker price. However, this still requires substantial borrowing for most families given the earnings outcomes.