Is Mayville State University Worth It?

Mayville State gives you a low-cost degree with modest earnings, and the math works only if you keep your debt down. Median debt sits at $18,585 against $47,828 in median earnings ten years out, so most graduates clear their loans without drowning. But that earnings figure is well below what many four-year degrees return, so this is a break-even school, not a wealth-builder.

The programs here point one direction: teaching and business. Teacher education in specific subject areas ($41,725) and business administration ($41,441) are the top earners, and both stay under the school-wide median for debt. Business is the safer bet on that front, with debt roughly in line with its payoff. Teacher education in specific levels and methods is the trap: it pays less ($37,424) while piling on the most debt of any listed program ($24,748). Health and physical education and general liberal arts sit near $30,000, low enough that borrowing much for them puts you underwater.

The main risk here is finishing at all. A 40.3% graduation rate and 67% retention mean a third of you leave after year one, and most who enroll never graduate. Debt without a degree is the worst outcome, and it's a real possibility at these odds.

The net price tiers favor lower-income families: if your household earns under $48k, you pay around $9,000-$10,500 a year, less than families above $48k who pay $14,600 or more. That makes Mayville a genuine value if you qualify for the most aid, plan to teach or go into business, and are confident you'll finish. If you'd need to borrow heavily for a low-paying major, or you're unsure about completing, look elsewhere.