At $21,724/yr net price, Ross College-Hopkinsville graduates earn $29,898/yr within 10 years of enrollment.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $21,724 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $86,896 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $29,898/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | $-4,102/yr |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 46.5% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $9,500 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $21,516/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $22,290/yr |
| $110,001+ | $26,586/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services. | Associate | $33,993 | $9,500 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services. | Certificate | $24,361 | $9,500 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services. | Certificate | $23,343 | $9,500 |
The Risk Factor
46.5% of students at Ross College-Hopkinsville 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
Ross College-Hopkinsville delivers poor financial returns for most students, with median earnings of $29,898 ten years after enrollment falling well short of justifying the $21,724 annual cost. The math works against you when you're paying nearly $44,000 for a two-year program that leads to jobs paying under $30,000.
Your best financial bet is the Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services program, which produces $33,993 in median earnings. This represents the only pathway where graduates earn enough to reasonably service their debt and justify the investment. The Health and Medical Administrative Services track pays significantly less at $24,361, making the debt burden harder to manage on that salary.
The 46.5% graduation rate compounds your financial risk. You face a real possibility of accumulating debt without completing your program, leaving you with educational expenses but no credential to show for it. Combined with the high net price, this creates substantial downside risk.
This school makes financial sense only if you're targeting the higher-earning Allied Health program and have exhausted more affordable community college options in the region. The relatively modest $9,500 median debt load helps, but it doesn't offset the fundamental problem of high tuition relative to graduate earnings.
You should look elsewhere if you're considering the lower-paying administrative programs or if you can access similar training through Kentucky's community college system at a fraction of the cost. The financial aid coverage of 77% of students suggests some assistance is available, but it's not enough to overcome the underlying value proposition problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ross College-Hopkinsville worth the cost compared to other schools?
Ross College-Hopkinsville graduates earn $29,898 ten years after enrollment while paying $21,724 annually, resulting in modest returns. The low graduation rate of 46.5% means many students don't complete their programs.
Which Ross College-Hopkinsville programs offer the best return on investment?
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services graduates earn $33,993, making it the highest-paying program at Ross College-Hopkinsville. Health and Medical Administrative Services graduates earn significantly less at $24,361.
How much debt do Ross College-Hopkinsville students typically graduate with?
Ross College-Hopkinsville graduates have a median debt of $9,500, which is relatively low compared to many colleges. However, the modest starting salaries mean debt repayment could still be challenging for some graduates.
What are the risks of attending Ross College-Hopkinsville financially?
The biggest risk is the 46.5% graduation rate, meaning over half of students don't finish their programs but may still accumulate debt. Even graduates in lower-paying programs may struggle to justify the annual cost of $21,724.