Skip to content
CollegeRanker
Donnelly College logo

Donnelly College

Private nonprofit Kansas City, KS · Urban · Plains · 87% data
B Affordability B- Diversity C+ Value
Graduation Rate
42% D+
Lower completion rate than most colleges
Earnings (10yr)
$35,715 D+
Below average for college graduates
Net Price
$11,476 B
33% less than the typical college
Enrollment
395
Earnings -12% vs avg
Graduation -27% vs avg
Net Price +-33% vs avg

Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 16.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $16.0 over 20 years.

16.0× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $16.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $688,223.

What The Data Says

  1. A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

  2. Graduation of 42% — 27% below the national average.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $16.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

About Donnelly College

Donnelly College is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Private College
Carnegie Class
Baccalaureate College
Enrollment
395
Setting
Urban
Designations
HSI · 30
Primary Strengths
Health Professions, Humanities, Business & Marketing, Computer Science & IT

Why students choose Donnelly College

Close mentorship
A small, undergraduate-focused community
Strength in Health Professions
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C
Top 48% overall
D+
Earnings
$35,715 median
C+
Value
3.1× net price
B
Affordability
$11,476/yr net
D+
Graduation
42% graduate
B-
Diversity
0.66 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

Nearly 70% of Donnelly College students receive Pell Grants, highlighting its commitment to serving low-income populations. With an enrollment of just 395, this private nonprofit college creates an intimate learning environment. Students here can expect personalized attention and support throughout their academic journey.

According to Chetty/Opportunity Insights data, specific mobility metrics for Donnelly College are not available. However, the graduation rate stands at 42%, suggesting challenges in student retention and completion. Despite this, the school aims to improve economic mobility for its students, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The net price for attending Donnelly College is $11,476, with median debt reaching $11,842 upon graduation. Graduates earn an average of $35,715 after ten years in the workforce. Students who thrive here are often those pursuing degrees in Health Professions, Humanities, Business & Marketing, or Computer Science & IT, looking for a supportive community focused on accessible education.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Donnelly College is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Donnelly College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a private institution in Kansas City, Kansas, Donnelly College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 42%.

Retention Rate
58%
Full-Time Faculty
50%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$4,489
Student–Faculty Ratio
9:1
Diversity Index
0.66
First-Gen Students
61%

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 Donnelly College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Donnelly College is $10,440, 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 $11,476. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,542 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $11,842 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$10,440
Out-of-State
$10,440
Avg Net Price
$11,476
Median Debt
$11,842
Pell Grant Rate
67%
Federal Loan Rate
35%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$10,542
Family Income $30K–$48K
$11,463
Family Income $48K–$75K
$12,484

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Students Like You

Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Donnelly College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is Donnelly College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Donnelly College report median earnings of $35,715, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

6 Years After Entry
$34,791
8 Years
$34,572
10 Years
$35,715
Debt-to-Earnings
0.33x
Earning > $25K
38%

Earnings Trajectory

$34,791 6yr $34,572 8yr $35,715 10yr

How Donnelly Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation42%Earnings 10yr$36KNet Price$11KRetention58%Median Debt$12KPell Grant Rate67%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$11K$0-30K$11K$30-48K$12K$48-75K

College ROI Calculator

Is Donnelly College Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Donnelly College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $11,476/year ($45,904 total). Graduates earn $35,715 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $734,127 in total earnings — a net gain of $688,223 (16.0× your investment). The median debt is $11,842, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 42% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$45,904
Projected 20yr Earnings
$734,127
Net Return
$688,223
ROI Multiple
16.0×
Cost Per Year
$11,476
Median Debt
$11,842
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
42%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Endowment
$7,439,989
Total Expenses
$8,080,465
Federal Grants
$1,882,432
Investment Income
$-1,401,444

Top Programs

The fields Donnelly College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.

Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Donnelly College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a private institution in Kansas City, Kansas, Donnelly College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 42%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Donnelly College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Donnelly College is $10,440, 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 $11,476. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,542 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $11,842 in federal student loans.

Is Donnelly College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Donnelly College report median earnings of $35,715, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

Similar Schools

Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Donnelly College.

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

Free · 21 pages · 5,745 institutions · 100% federal data, no surveys