At $31,057/yr net price, Hobart William Smith Colleges graduates earn $68,831/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $34,831/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $31,057 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $124,228 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $68,831/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$34,831/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 3.6 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 72.7% |
| 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 | $10,969/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $14,672/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $19,579/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $24,792/yr |
| $110,001+ | $41,860/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economics. | Bachelor | $55,512 | $26,967 |
| Public Policy Analysis. | Bachelor | $44,942 | |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | Bachelor | $42,682 | |
| History. | Bachelor | $41,193 | $27,000 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research. | Bachelor | $34,348 | $27,000 |
| Psychology, General. | Bachelor | $33,281 | $27,000 |
| Communication and Media Studies. | Bachelor | $32,569 | $26,500 |
| English Language and Literature, General. | Bachelor | $30,409 | $27,000 |
The Risk Factor
72.7% of students at Hobart William Smith Colleges graduate within 6 years. A significant share of students finish, but roughly 27% do not complete their degree.
Analysis
Hobart William Smith gives you a mixed financial picture. A $31,057 net price and $68,831 median earnings ten years out put you in decent shape overall, and the 89% retention plus 73% graduation rate mean most people who start here finish and pay down the $27,000 median debt.
The catch is the gap between that school-wide earnings number and what specific majors deliver. Economics is the best-paying program listed, and even that starts graduates near $55,000. Public policy analysis, general liberal arts, and history all land in the low-to-mid $40,000s early on, while natural resources conservation trails at roughly $34,000 against the same $27,000 debt load. If you borrow the median to study conservation here, your first paychecks will feel tight. Economics carries almost identical debt but nearly $21,000 more in early earnings, so your major choice matters more than the sticker price.
The financial risk here is a liberal-arts lineup where the humanities and social-science programs pay modestly out of the gate in the upstate New York job market. The strong ten-year median suggests earnings climb later, but you carry the debt in the meantime.
Income tier pricing decides whether this works for your family. Under $30,000 in income, you pay about $10,969 a year. Between $48,000 and $75,000 it climbs to $19,579, and above $110,000 you pay $41,860. That top-tier figure means full-pay families should compare hard against cheaper alternatives, since the return on a $167,000 four-year cost is not guaranteed by these program salaries.
This school fits you if you qualify for the lower net-price tiers or plan to major in economics or a field with clear graduate-school follow-through. If you are full-pay and drawn to the lower-earning programs, look elsewhere first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hobart William Smith Colleges worth the cost?
With graduates earning $68,831 after 10 years and median debt of $27,000, Hobart William Smith offers decent financial outcomes for a liberal arts college. The return depends heavily on your major, with economics graduates earning $55,512 compared to $34,348 for natural resources majors.
What are the best paying majors at Hobart William Smith Colleges?
Economics leads at $55,512 annually, followed by public policy analysis at $44,942. Liberal arts and history majors earn around $42,000, while natural resources graduates see the lowest returns at $34,348.
How much debt do Hobart William Smith Colleges graduates have?
Median debt is $27,000, which is manageable compared to the national average. With a net price of $31,057 per year, many students graduate with debt levels that allow reasonable loan payments relative to their starting salaries.
Does Hobart William Smith Colleges have good job placement after graduation?
The 72.70% graduation rate is solid but not exceptional for a private college. Ten-year earnings of $68,831 suggest graduates find decent employment, though outcomes vary significantly by program of study.