Holland, MI · Private University
Is Hope College Worth It?
ROI analysis based on real earnings and cost data
Key Numbers
10-Year Earnings
$58,427
median, 10 years after enrollment
In-State Tuition
$40,420
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$40,420
per year
Total 4-Year Cost
$161,680
tuition only (4 years)
ROI Ratio
1.45x
earnings ÷ annual tuition
Payback Period
6.9 yrs
years to recoup total cost
Graduation Rate
82.3%
6-year graduation rate
Median Debt
$26,800
at graduation
Avg Net Price
$25,749
after aid & scholarships
Earnings vs. Annual Cost
10-year median earnings compared to annual tuition
Hope College graduates earn $13,427 more than the national median of workers with any education level.
What You'd Actually Pay
Average net price after grants and scholarships, by family income
Source: IPEDS net price data. Actual costs vary based on individual financial circumstances.
Highest-Earning Majors
Top programs at Hope College ranked by graduate earnings
64 graduates
38 graduates
18 graduates
66 graduates
132 graduates
Earnings shown are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 1-year medians.
ROI by Major at Hope College
All available majors ranked by graduate earnings. Your major matters as much as your school.
Your major matters more than your school
At Hope College, the gap between the highest-earning major (Engineering, General: $76,755) and the lowest (Dance: $23,050) is $53,705/yr, bigger than the difference between many schools.
| Major | Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering, GeneralBest ROI | $76,755 | 1.9x |
| Accounting and Related Services | $75,233 | 1.9x |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $73,259 | 1.8x |
| Chemistry | $68,029 | 1.7x |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $61,493 | 1.5x |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $60,551 | 1.5x |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $52,363 | 1.3x |
| Special Education and Teaching | $50,640 | 1.3x |
| Sociology | $50,294 | 1.2x |
| Social Work | $48,054 | 1.2x |
| Communication and Media Studies | $47,958 | 1.2x |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $46,184 | 1.1x |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $44,356 | 1.1x |
| Psychology, General | $43,930 | 1.1x |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $41,685 | 1.0x |
| Biology, General | $39,132 | 1.0x |
| English Language and Literature, General | $36,273 | 0.9x |
| Political Science and Government(1yr data) | $32,389 | 0.8x |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $30,238 | 0.8x |
| Religion/Religious Studies(1yr data) | $25,208 | 0.6x |
| DanceLowest(1yr data) | $23,050 | 0.6x |
Earnings are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 5-year or 1-year. ROI = earnings ÷ annual tuition.
How It Compares
ROI at similar schools
| School | ROI Ratio | Earnings | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hope College | 1.45x | $58,427 | Average ROI |
| Calvin University | 1.51x | $58,375 | Good ROI |
| Bradley University | 1.69x | $66,852 | Good ROI |
| Baldwin Wallace University | 1.43x | $54,122 | Average ROI |
| Taylor University | 1.33x | $52,198 | Average ROI |
| Le Moyne College | 1.61x | $62,731 | Good ROI |
The Bottom Line
Hope College delivers returns in line with the national college average. Graduates earn $58,427 10 years after starting, $13,427 above the national median of $45,000. Graduates typically break even on their investment within 6.9 years, a reasonable timeline.
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Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Tuition data from IPEDS. ROI calculations are for informational purposes only and reflect median outcomes.