Menlo College
Menlo College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Menlo College at a Glance
Menlo College is a private college specializing in business and located in Atherton, California, United States.
1927
99 years old
$25M
$24.6 million
825
Identity
Is Menlo College Worth It?
At a value score of 32/100, Menlo College is a below-average value relative to its cost. Graduates earn $76,419 — 42% above average — while paying $31,100/year. Consider alternatives with better earnings-to-cost ratios.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.6 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 52% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 5 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 Menlo College has outcomes that justify the cost — the institution-wide numbers suggest caution.
How Menlo College compares to peer private nonprofit colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #15 of 21 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 | Kalamazoo College | 68 | $19,072 | $65,590 |
| #2 | Clarkson College | 57 | $19,241 | $64,876 |
| #3 | Wabash College | 55 | $24,336 | $69,952 |
| #4 | The Christ College of Nursing and Health Sciences | 54 | $18,378 | $68,303 |
| #5 | Kettering College | 51 | $21,650 | $67,492 |
| #6 | Bryan College of Health Sciences | 48 | $26,919 | $70,845 |
| #15 | Menlo College | 32 | $31,100 | $76,419 |
Peer group: private nonprofit colleges within ±60% of Menlo College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at Menlo College
The highest-earning program at Menlo College is Accounting and Related Services at $62,000/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Marketing at $40,500/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Accounting and Related Services graduate from Menlo College earns $62,000, while a Marketing graduate earns $40,500. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Accounting and Related Services graduates carry $23,000 in median debt vs. $22,375 for Marketing.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $31,100/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
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting and Related Services | $62,000 | $62,000 | $23,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $44,200 | $44,200 | $24,000 |
| Marketing | $40,500 | $40,500 | $22,375 |
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Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- private
- Location
- Atherton, CA
- Student Body
- 752 students
- Admission Rate
- 68%
- Graduation Rate
- 52%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $31,100
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $76,419
- Median Student Debt
- $21,750