Defiance College
- Graduation Rate
- 34% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $49,351 B-
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $26,337 D
- 54% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 48% A-
- Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 12.6× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $12.6 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $12.6 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,217,335.
What The Data Says
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A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Earnings 21% above the national college median.
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Graduation of 34% — 41% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $12.6 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Defiance College Matters
Defiance College is a private college in Defiance, OH and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate College
- Enrollment
- 499
- Setting
- Town
- Designations
- 76
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Education, Criminal Justice, Computer Science & IT
Why students choose Defiance College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Selective — admits about 48% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $26,337 a year after grants and scholarships — 54% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $49,351 ten years after enrolling — 21% above the typical college, against $26,813 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.1% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 70% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.52 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Defiance College is ideal for students who want a close-knit community and personalized attention in their studies. With an enrollment of just 499, the college emphasizes hands-on learning and offers programs in Business & Marketing, Education, Criminal Justice, Computer Science & IT, and Humanities. This smaller size can be appealing to those who thrive in more intimate settings where they can build strong relationships with professors and peers.
Looking beyond graduation, students from Defiance College earn a median salary of $49,351 a decade after completing their degrees. While the graduation rate sits at 34%, many students find value in the education they receive, leading to careers in diverse fields. It’s important to consider that affordability plays a role here, with a significant portion of the student body receiving Pell Grants, indicating financial support for those who need it.
On the financial side, the net price after aid comes to $26,337, with a median debt of $26,813 for graduates. This financial landscape means that while students might take on some debt, many find it manageable relative to their post-graduation earnings. Defiance College tends to attract students who are looking for a supportive environment and are committed to their educational journey, making it a good fit for those ready to engage deeply in their studies.
Rankings
- #11 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Ohio
- #23 Best Computer Science Colleges in Ohio
- #23 Best Data Science Colleges in Ohio
- #24 Smallest Colleges in America
- #29 Best Education Colleges in Ohio
- #41 Best Online Colleges in Ohio
- #43 Best Online Education Programs in Ohio
- #44 Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Ohio
Can I Get In?
How selective Defiance College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Defiance College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Defiance, Ohio, Defiance College reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 48%. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 20. The graduation rate is roughly 34%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 48%
- Retention Rate
- 56%
- ACT Midpoint
- 20
- Full-Time Faculty
- 60%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $6,646
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 10:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.59
- First-Gen Students
- 36%
- Applicants
- 2,722
- Admitted
- 1,711
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Defiance College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Defiance College is $29,320, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $26,337. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $27,196 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,813 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $29,320
- Out-of-State
- $29,320
- Avg Net Price
- $26,337
- Median Debt
- $26,813
- Pell Grant Rate
- 50%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 72%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $27,196
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $26,105
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $25,884
- Family Income $110K+
- $26,637
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Defiance College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Defiance College earn a median of $49,351, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $39,303
- 8 Years
- $42,218
- 10 Years
- $49,351
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.54x
- Earning > $25K
- 65%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (95)
- 41%
- 100% (95)
- 41%
- 100% (95)
- 41%
- 100% (95)
- 41%
How Defiance Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Defiance College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Defiance College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $26,337/year ($105,348 total). Graduates earn $49,351 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,322,683 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,217,335 (12.6× your investment). The median debt is $26,813, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 34% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $105,348
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,322,683
- Net Return
- $1,217,335
- ROI Multiple
- 12.6×
- Cost Per Year
- $26,337
- Median Debt
- $26,813
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 34%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Defiance College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Defiance College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.11%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 5.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 21.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $77,900, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.11%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 21.7%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 5.1%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $77,900
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-2,699,511
Top Programs
The fields Defiance College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Business & Marketing 15%
- Education 13%
- Criminal Justice 13%
- Computer Science & IT 6%
- Humanities 5%
- Visual & Performing Arts 4%
- Health Professions 4%
- Biology & Biomedical 3%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Defiance College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Defiance College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Defiance, Ohio, Defiance College reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 48%. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 20. The graduation rate is roughly 34%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Defiance College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Defiance College is $29,320, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $26,337. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $27,196 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,813 in federal student loans.
Is Defiance College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Defiance College earn a median of $49,351, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Defiance College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Defiance College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.11%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 5.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 21.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $77,900, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Defiance College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Defiance College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.52, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Defiance College.
- Bethany CollegeLindsborg, KS · Close peer32% grad $49,694 earn 56% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Sterling CollegeSterling, KS · Close peer34% grad $45,846 earn 48% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of ProvidenceGreat Falls, MT · Close peer36% grad $48,296 earn 50% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Bluefield UniversityBluefield, VA · Close peer22% grad $48,896 earn 59% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Hope International UniversityFullerton, CA · Close peer48% grad $49,697 earn 33% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar size
- York UniversityYork, NE · Close peer44% grad $44,130 earn 52% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Defiance College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Defiance College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.52, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note