Franklin College
Franklin College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Franklin College at a Glance
Franklin College is a private liberal arts college in Franklin, Indiana. It was founded in 1834 and has a wooded campus spanning 207 acres (84 ha) including athletic fields and a 31-acre (13 ha) biology woodland. The college offers its approximately 1,000 students Bachelor of Arts degrees in 49 majors from 25 academic disciplines, 43 minors, 11 pre-professional programs, and 5 cooperative programs. The college also offers a Master of Science in Athletic Training and a Master of Science in Physic…
1834
192 years old
$105M
$105.35 million (2025)
966
81
207 acres
Identity
Is Franklin College Worth It?
At a value score of 37/100, Franklin College is a below-average value relative to its cost. Graduates earn $55,376 — 3% above average — while paying $22,855/year. Consider alternatives with better earnings-to-cost ratios.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.7 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 62% graduation rate means roughly 38% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
Bottom line: consider whether the specific program you're interested in at Franklin College has outcomes that justify the cost — the institution-wide numbers suggest caution.
How Franklin College compares to peer private nonprofit colleges of similar tier in IN
Ranked #26 of 117 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 | University of St Francis | 81 | $13,006 | $63,926 |
| #2 | Clarkson College | 57 | $19,241 | $64,876 |
| #3 | Ursuline College | 53 | $16,164 | $56,878 |
| #4 | Pillar College | 49 | $8,470 | $45,577 |
| #5 | Coe College | 48 | $18,745 | $57,125 |
| #6 | Luther College | 47 | $23,097 | $59,850 |
| #26 | Franklin College | 37 | $22,855 | $55,376 |
Peer group: private nonprofit colleges within ±60% of Franklin College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 5 in IN.
Best Programs at Franklin College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Franklin 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 $22,855/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 IN
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- private
- Location
- Franklin, IN
- Student Body
- 900 students
- Admission Rate
- 70%
- Graduation Rate
- 62%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $22,855
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $55,376
- Median Student Debt
- $27,000