At $18,372/yr net price, Marietta College graduates earn $57,180/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $23,180/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $18,372 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $73,488 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $57,180/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$23,180/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 3.2 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 58.1% |
| 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 | $14,987/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $14,731/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $16,626/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $20,834/yr |
| $110,001+ | $25,625/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Master | $109,763 | $99,204 |
| Petroleum Engineering. | Bachelor | $71,575 | $27,000 |
| Marketing. | Bachelor | $36,134 | |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication. | Bachelor | $35,416 | |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | Bachelor | $34,526 | |
| Journalism. | Bachelor | $29,685 |
The Risk Factor
58.1% of students at Marietta 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
Marietta College gives you a middle-of-the-road financial return that depends almost entirely on what you study. A private-nonprofit school where you pay $18,372 a year on average and leave with $27,000 in debt, it pays off if you land in the right major and struggles to justify the cost if you don't.
Petroleum engineering is the clear win here. At $71,575 a year, it earns roughly double what the next-best program pays and carries the same $27,000 debt load everyone else takes on. If you can get into and finish that program, the math works cleanly.
Everything else is a harder sell. Marketing, public relations, and teacher education all land in the mid-$30,000s, and journalism sits under $30,000. Carry $27,000 in debt against a journalism salary and you are looking at years of tight budgets. These fields pay the same at Marietta as they would from a cheaper public school, so the private price tag buys you little in earnings.
The specific risk is the gap between the star program and the rest. A 58% graduation rate and 73% retention mean a real chance you leave without a degree while still owing money, and non-engineering paths give you less earnings cushion to absorb that.
On price, families under $48k pay under $15,000 a year, and the number barely moves as income rises until you cross $75k. Above $110k you pay $25,625, close to full freight. If your family earns under $48k and you commit to petroleum engineering, Marietta is a strong bet. If you earn over $110k and plan to major in journalism or communications, look at cheaper options where the same salary costs you less to reach.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Marietta College worth the cost?
Marietta College's ROI depends heavily on your major. Allied health and petroleum engineering graduates earn well above the school average, but most other programs lead to below-average starting salaries relative to the debt load.
What is the financial aid like at Marietta College?
The net price averages $18,372 annually, which is reasonable for a private college. However, graduates still carry a median debt of $27,000, and many programs don't generate enough income to justify even this reduced cost.
Which Marietta College programs have the best ROI?
Allied health diagnostic programs offer the strongest return at $109,763 median earnings, followed by petroleum engineering at $71,575. Most other majors, including marketing and education, produce earnings below $40,000.
How risky is taking on debt for Marietta College?
With a 58% graduation rate and median earnings of $57,180, debt risk is moderate to high for most students. Only pursue this investment if you're entering allied health or petroleum engineering programs.