At $19,164/yr net price, Keene State College graduates earn $54,368/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $20,368/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $19,164 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $76,656 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $54,368/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$20,368/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 3.8 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 58.4% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $25,749 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $11,111/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $14,049/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $15,816/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $20,423/yr |
| $110,001+ | $24,020/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $62,839 | $27,000 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | Bachelor | $55,693 | $26,259 |
| Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians. | Bachelor | $49,980 | $25,000 |
| Special Education and Teaching. | Master | $44,542 | |
| Chemistry. | Bachelor | $43,798 | |
| Curriculum and Instruction. | Master | $43,575 | |
| Economics. | Bachelor | $41,789 | |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Bachelor | $41,565 | $26,000 |
| Architecture. | Bachelor | $40,461 | $26,860 |
| Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other. | Bachelor | $40,368 | $27,000 |
The Risk Factor
58.4% of students at Keene State College 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
Keene State College gives you a mixed financial return. At about $19,000 a year in net price with median earnings of $54,368 ten years out, you land in the range where a degree pays back, but the margin depends heavily on what you study. Median debt sits near $25,700, which is manageable against those earnings but not trivial if your major sits at the bottom of the earnings list.
Nursing is the clear winner here. It pays roughly $62,800 and carries about $27,000 in debt, so even with the highest borrowing of any program listed, the earnings cover it. Computer and Information Sciences follows at around $55,700 with similar debt. Below that, the gap widens fast. Chemistry graduates earn about $43,800 and Economics around $41,800, roughly $19,000 to $21,000 less per year than nursing. If you enroll for those majors, the same net price buys you a much slower payback.
The specific risk is the 58% graduation rate paired with a 78% first-year retention rate. That means a meaningful share of you leave before finishing, and leaving with debt but no degree is the worst outcome the numbers point to. Weigh that before you borrow.
On price, family income matters a lot. If your household earns under $30,000, you pay about $11,100 a year. over $110,000, you pay about $24,000. That's a swing of roughly $13,000 annually, so lower-income families get a genuinely different deal than the sticker suggests.
Keene fits you well if you're headed into nursing or computer science and expect to graduate. If you're drawn to chemistry, economics, or you're unsure you'll finish, price the four years carefully and compare against cheaper options before committing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Keene State College worth the money?
Keene State College graduates earn $54,368 ten years after enrollment, which is below average for the $25,749 median debt students typically carry. The nursing programs offer better returns with $62,839 average earnings, but most other majors struggle to justify the cost.
What are the best paying majors at Keene State College?
Nursing programs at Keene State College lead earnings at $62,839, followed by computer science at $55,693. Education and chemistry majors earn significantly less at $44,542 and $43,798 respectively, making debt repayment more challenging.
How much student debt do Keene State College graduates have?
Keene State College graduates carry a median debt of $25,749. With average earnings of $54,368 ten years out, most graduates face a manageable but not ideal debt-to-income ratio of about 47%.
Does Keene State College have a good graduation rate?
Keene State College has a 58% graduation rate, meaning 4 out of 10 students don't finish their degree. This completion risk adds to the financial uncertainty, especially for students considering lower-paying majors outside of nursing.