At $39,951/yr net price, Reed College graduates earn $62,927/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $28,927/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $39,951 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $159,804 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $62,927/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$28,927/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 5.5 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 75.9% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $21,500 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $19,418/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $25,846/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $14,080/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $28,552/yr |
| $110,001+ | $53,463/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economics. | Bachelor | $52,107 | $22,842 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other. | Bachelor | $30,409 | $19,250 |
| Fine and Studio Arts. | Bachelor | $28,598 | |
| Biology, General. | Bachelor | $26,739 | |
| English Language and Literature, General. | Bachelor | $18,771 | $19,500 |
| Psychology, General. | Bachelor | $16,874 | $22,594 |
The Risk Factor
75.9% of students at Reed College graduate within 6 years. A significant share of students finish, but roughly 24% do not complete their degree.
Analysis
Reed College delivers weak financial returns that make it difficult to justify the high cost for most students. Your median post-graduation earnings of $62,927 barely outpace what many state school graduates earn, yet you'll pay nearly $40,000 annually to attend.
Economics majors fare best with starting salaries around $52,000, though even this falls short of what economics graduates earn at comparable schools. Every other major shows concerning earnings patterns. Fine arts graduates earn just $28,598, biology majors start at $26,739, and English majors face particularly tough prospects at $18,771 annually. These low earnings make Reed's debt burden problematic even though median debt of $21,500 appears manageable.
Reed's biggest financial risk is its 24% dropout rate. If you leave without graduating, you'll carry debt with no degree to show for it. The school's academic intensity contributes to this high attrition rate.
Reed works financially only if your family can pay most costs upfront. With just 12% of students receiving need-based aid, the school offers limited help for middle-class families. Merit scholarships are rare. Your best strategy is negotiating with Reed after receiving aid offers from comparable liberal arts colleges.
Choose Reed only if you have substantial family wealth or plan to pursue graduate school where the Reed name carries weight in academic circles. If you need your undergraduate degree to immediately support you financially, look elsewhere. Reed's intellectual environment comes at a price that most graduates cannot quickly recover through earnings alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Reed College worth the high tuition cost?
Reed's graduates earn a median of $62,927 ten years after graduation, which is modest given the $40,000 annual net price. The return on investment is weak compared to other selective colleges, especially outside of economics programs.
What Reed College majors have the best job prospects and salaries?
Economics majors earn around $52,000 after graduation, making it the only Reed program with decent earning potential. Liberal arts majors like English ($18,771) and Fine Arts ($28,598) face particularly poor job market outcomes.
How much student debt do Reed College graduates typically have?
Reed graduates carry a median debt of $21,500, which is manageable compared to the national average. However, the low starting salaries in most majors make even this moderate debt burden challenging to repay.
Does Reed College provide enough financial aid to make it affordable?
With a net price of nearly $40,000 per year, Reed remains expensive even after financial aid. The college's aid packages don't adequately offset the poor earnings outcomes for most graduates.