At $30,841/yr net price, Mitchell College graduates earn $39,115/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $5,115/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $30,841 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $123,364 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $39,115/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$5,115/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 24.1 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 44.1% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $25,150 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $27,427/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $29,762/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $26,085/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $36,769/yr |
| $110,001+ | $33,628/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | Bachelor | $31,133 | |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. | Bachelor | $26,224 | $27,000 |
| Communication and Media Studies. | Bachelor | $24,421 | |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Bachelor | $24,035 | $26,000 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness. | Bachelor | $22,420 | |
| Hospitality Administration/Management. | Bachelor | $17,396 |
The Risk Factor
44.1% of students at Mitchell 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
Mitchell College's numbers point to a weak financial return. You pay about $30,800 a year, and the median graduate earns $39,115 a decade after enrolling. That gap is the core problem: your degree costs more than most of its graduates ever recover in extra pay. Only 44% of students finish, and just 57% come back after their first year, so a large share of families spend money without leaving with a degree at all.
None of the top programs here pay off well. Liberal Arts leads at $31,133, but even that trails the school's own median. Criminal Justice grads earn $26,224 while carrying $27,000 in debt, and Business Administration comes in near $24,000 against $26,000 borrowed. Health and Physical Education sits at the bottom around $22,400. These are the highest-earning majors on offer, and they all leave you owing roughly a year's salary in loans against modest paychecks. There is no listed program that clears the cost-to-earnings math cleanly.
The specific risk is the combination of low completion and low post-graduation pay. If you leave without finishing, you hold debt and no credential. If you finish, your earnings still cluster in the low-to-mid $20,000s to low $30,000s.
The net price tiers work backward here. If your family earns under $48k, you pay close to $28,000-$30,000, while families in the $75-110k band pay the most at $36,769. Lower-income families get little relief from the sticker price.
Mitchell can fit you if you need small-college support to finish a degree and have outside funding that keeps your borrowing low. If you are paying near full price and choosing a major for its earnings, look elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mitchell College worth the cost?
Mitchell College graduates earn a median of $39,115 ten years after graduation, which is low compared to the $30,841 annual cost. With only a 44% graduation rate, many students don't finish their degree at all.
What are the best paying programs at Mitchell College?
Liberal Arts and General Studies graduates from Mitchell College earn the most at $31,133 annually, while Criminal Justice graduates earn $26,224. Most programs produce earnings below $27,000, which may not justify the cost.
How much debt do Mitchell College students graduate with?
Mitchell College graduates have median debt of $25,150. Given the relatively low starting salaries across most programs, this debt load could be challenging to repay.
Does Mitchell College have good job placement after graduation?
Mitchell College's 10-year earnings data shows graduates earning around $39,000, which is modest for a private college. The 44% graduation rate suggests many students struggle to complete their programs successfully.