Earlham College
#3 Best Biology Colleges in Indiana- Graduation Rate
- 68% B-
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $50,797 B-
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $24,714 D
- 44% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 73% C+
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 17.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $17.2 over 20 years. Ranked #3 in Best Biology Colleges in Indiana.
Every $1 spent returns $17.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,605,130.
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 25% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $17.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About Earlham College
Earlham 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 Liberal Arts College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate · Arts & Sciences
- Enrollment
- 670
- Setting
- Town
- Designations
- 65
- Primary Strengths
- Biology & Biomedical, Psychology, Business & Marketing, Social Sciences
Why students choose Earlham 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
Competitive — admits about 73% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1110–1290. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $24,714 a year after grants and scholarships — 44% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $50,797 ten years after enrolling — 25% above the typical college, against $23,488 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.2% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 99% nationally for mobility.
See mobility →Overview
Earlham College has a unique enrollment of just 670 students, creating an intimate campus atmosphere where personal attention is the norm. With a 73% acceptance rate, the college is accessible to a wide range of applicants.
The Chetty/Opportunity Insights data on outcomes is not available, but the school does have a graduation rate of 68%. Graduates earn a median salary of $50,797 ten years after completing their degree, indicating a solid return on investment.
The net price for attending Earlham is $24,714, with a median debt of $23,488 for graduates. About 24% of the student body receives Pell Grants, suggesting that some students come from low-income backgrounds. Those who thrive here are likely to be self-motivated and engaged, especially in programs like Biology, Business, Psychology, and the Arts.
Rankings
- #3 Best Biology Colleges in Indiana
- #6 Best Computer Science Colleges in Indiana
- #6 Best Data Science Colleges in Indiana
- #9 Best Psychology Colleges in Indiana
- #11 Best Colleges in Indiana
- #13 Best Bachelor's Programs in Indiana
- #14 Best Master's Programs in Indiana
- #21 Best Business Colleges in Indiana
Can I Get In?
How selective Earlham 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 Earlham College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Earlham College, located in Richmond, Indiana, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 73%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,219. The graduation rate is roughly 68%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 73%
- Retention Rate
- 77%
- SAT Average
- 1219
- ACT Midpoint
- 28
- SAT Range
- 1110–1290
- ACT Range
- 24–33
- Full-Time Faculty
- 96%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,169
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 6:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.60
- First-Gen Students
- 23%
- Applicants
- 1,375
- Admitted
- 1,007
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 Earlham College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Earlham College is $53,930, 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 $24,714. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $17,178 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,488 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $53,930
- Out-of-State
- $53,930
- Avg Net Price
- $24,714
- Median Debt
- $23,488
- Pell Grant Rate
- 24%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 43%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $17,178
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $15,658
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $19,768
- Family Income $110K+
- $31,058
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Earlham College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Earlham College earn a median of $50,797, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $35,430
- 8 Years
- $39,252
- 10 Years
- $50,797
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.46x
- Earning > $25K
- 45%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (164)
- 61%
- 100% (164)
- 61%
- 100% (164)
- 61%
- 100% (164)
- 61%
How Earlham 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 Earlham College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Earlham College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $24,714/year ($98,856 total). Graduates earn $50,797 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,703,986 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,605,130 (17.2× your investment). The median debt is $23,488, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 68% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $98,856
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,703,986
- Net Return
- $1,605,130
- ROI Multiple
- 17.2×
- Cost Per Year
- $24,714
- Median Debt
- $23,488
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 68%
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 Earlham College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Earlham 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 0.24%, a more modest figure. About 5.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 4.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $99,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.24%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 4.8%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 5.1%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $99,100
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $3,523,145
- Investment Income
- $-25,272,402
Top Programs
The fields Earlham 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.
- Biology & Biomedical 20%
- Psychology 9%
- Business & Marketing 8%
- Social Sciences 7%
- Physical Sciences 6%
- Computer Science & IT 5%
- Visual & Performing Arts 4%
- Communications 2%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Earlham 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+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Earlham College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Earlham College, located in Richmond, Indiana, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 73%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,219. The graduation rate is roughly 68%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Earlham College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Earlham College is $53,930, 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 $24,714. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $17,178 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,488 in federal student loans.
Is Earlham College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Earlham College earn a median of $50,797, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Earlham College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Earlham 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 0.24%, a more modest figure. About 5.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 4.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $99,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Earlham College.
- Holy Cross CollegeNotre Dame, IN · Close peer50% grad $50,416 earn 75% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Franklin CollegeFranklin, IN · Close peer62% grad $55,376 earn 70% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Westminster CollegeFulton, MO · Close peer56% grad $52,199 earn 79% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Dakota Wesleyan UniversityMitchell, SD · Close peer47% grad $53,728 earn 73% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Anderson UniversityAnderson, IN · Close peer52% grad $48,899 earn 79% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar net price
- Martin Luther CollegeNew Ulm, MN · Close peer71% grad $47,491 earn 87% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
