Donnelly College
Donnelly College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Donnelly College at a Glance
Donnelly College is a private Catholic college in Kansas City, Kansas. The college offers bachelor's, associate degrees, and Nursing certifications. It is the only college or university in the state designated as a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) and a minority-serving institution (MSI).
1949
77 years old
$7M
$6,534,561
304
294 undergrad
Identity
Is Donnelly College Worth It?
At a value score of 33/100, Donnelly College is a below-average value relative to its cost. Graduates earn $35,715 — 34% below average — while paying $11,476/year. Consider alternatives with better earnings-to-cost ratios.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.3 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 42% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 4 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
Bottom line: consider whether the specific program you're interested in at Donnelly College has outcomes that justify the cost — the institution-wide numbers suggest caution.
How Donnelly College compares to peer private nonprofit colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #18 of 95 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Kehilath Yakov Rabbinical Seminary | 100 | $3,822 | $36,442 |
| #2 | Turtle Mountain College | 100 | $3,428 | $32,079 |
| #3 | College of Biblical Studies-Houston | 100 | $672 | $39,260 |
| #4 | Emmaus Bible College | 66 | $13,186 | $42,631 |
| #5 | Baptist University of Florida | 64 | $10,372 | $42,836 |
| #6 | Appalachian Bible College | 59 | $11,579 | $37,467 |
| #18 | Donnelly College | 33 | $11,476 | $35,715 |
Peer group: private nonprofit colleges within ±60% of Donnelly College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 2 in KS.
Best Programs at Donnelly College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Donnelly College. When evaluating whether to attend, research outcomes for your specific major using the Department of Education's College Scorecard or ask the admissions office for placement rates.
As a general rule: STEM, nursing, accounting, and computer science programs tend to deliver the strongest ROI regardless of institution. Humanities and arts programs can still be worthwhile, but require more intentional career planning to achieve financial payoff.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $11,476/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Similar Colleges in KS
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- private
- Location
- Kansas City, KS
- Student Body
- 395 students
- Graduation Rate
- 42%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $11,476
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $35,715
- Median Student Debt
- $11,842