Henry Ford College
Henry Ford College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Henry Ford College at a Glance
Henry Ford College (HFC) is a public community college in Dearborn, Michigan. The institution, established in 1938 by the Dearborn Fordson Public Schools Board of Education, is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The institution was originally named Fordson Junior College. It adopted the name Dearborn Junior College in 1946, then Henry Ford Community College (HFCC) in 1952, after the Henry Ford Trade School which closed and whose assets were transferred to the Dearborn School Board of …
1938
88 years old
11,376
75 acres
Identity
Is Henry Ford College Worth It?
Henry Ford College is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $660/year net price and $34,795 median earnings, graduates earn 52.7× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.1 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 14% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 1 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: Henry Ford College delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How Henry Ford College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #1 of 85 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 | Henry Ford College | 100 | $660 | $34,795 |
| #2 | Indian River State College | 100 | $3,815 | $38,315 |
| #3 | Taft College | 96 | $2,823 | $38,861 |
| #4 | Pensacola State College | 91 | $3,957 | $36,739 |
| #5 | Gulf Coast State College | 90 | $4,709 | $38,359 |
| #6 | Shasta College | 89 | $2,878 | $39,269 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Henry Ford College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 1 in MI.
Best Programs at Henry Ford College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Henry Ford 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 $660/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 MI
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Dearborn, MI
- Student Body
- 8,643 students
- Graduation Rate
- 14%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $660
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $34,795
- Median Student Debt
- $14,250