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Eastern Mennonite University

#3 Best Nursing Colleges in Virginia
Private nonprofit Harrisonburg, VA · Urban · Southeast · 100% data
B Earnings B Diversity C Graduation
Graduation Rate
57% C
About half of students who start complete their degree
Earnings (10yr)
$54,869 B
Well above the typical college graduate
Net Price
$24,588 D
43% more than the typical college
Acceptance Rate
100% F
Accessible to most qualified applicants
Earnings +34% vs avg
Graduation +0% vs avg
Net Price 43% vs avg
Mobility Top 76%

Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 13.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $13.0 over 20 years. Ranked #3 in Best Nursing Colleges in Virginia.

13.0× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $13.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,180,144.

What The Data Says

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

  2. Earnings 34% above the national college median.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $13.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why Eastern Mennonite University Matters

Eastern Mennonite University is a private university in Harrisonburg, VA 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 University
Carnegie Class
Master's University
Enrollment
754
Setting
Urban
Designations
69
Primary Strengths
Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Humanities, Psychology

Why students choose Eastern Mennonite University

Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Strength in Health Professions
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

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

C-
Top 57% overall
B
Earnings
$54,869 median
C-
Value
2.2× net price
D
Affordability
$24,588/yr net
C
Graduation
57% graduate
D
Social Mobility
1.0% climb Q1→Q5
F
Selectivity
100% admit rate
B
Diversity
0.69 index

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

How we grade →

Overview

With an enrollment of 754 students, Eastern Mennonite University offers a tight-knit community where individuals can explore diverse fields like Health Professions, Business & Marketing, and Psychology. This school is particularly appealing for those who thrive in smaller settings, allowing for closer relationships with faculty and peers. The 100% acceptance rate means that almost anyone can find a place here, making it an accessible option for many.

After graduation, students can expect to earn about $54,869 within ten years, which gives a solid start for those entering the workforce. While the graduation rate sits at 57%, it's important to consider how many graduates successfully find their paths. Financially, the cost of attending is manageable, especially for those who qualify for support, with a net price of around $24,588 after aid.

Looking at the practical side, students who thrive here often do so because of their commitment to personal growth and community values. With a median debt of $24,813, graduates leave with a manageable financial burden, especially when weighed against their early career earnings. This mix of affordability and community focus can be appealing for those who value both education and a supportive environment.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Eastern Mennonite University 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 Eastern Mennonite University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Harrisonburg, Virginia, Eastern Mennonite University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 100%. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 30. The graduation rate is roughly 57%.

Acceptance Rate
100%
Retention Rate
76%
ACT Midpoint
30
Full-Time Faculty
96%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$6,452
Student–Faculty Ratio
10:1
Diversity Index
0.69
First-Gen Students
32%
Applicants
1,144
Admitted
1,138

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 Eastern Mennonite University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Eastern Mennonite University is $43,920, 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 $24,588. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $22,994 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $24,813 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$43,920
Out-of-State
$43,920
Avg Net Price
$24,588
Median Debt
$24,813
Pell Grant Rate
33%
Federal Loan Rate
56%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$22,994
Family Income $30K–$48K
$20,333
Family Income $48K–$75K
$20,454
Family Income $110K+
$29,315

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Graduate Outcomes

Is Eastern Mennonite University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Eastern Mennonite University earn a median of $54,869, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

6 Years After Entry
$48,158
8 Years
$53,356
10 Years
$54,869
Debt-to-Earnings
0.45x
Earning > $25K
70%

Earnings Trajectory

$48,158 6yr $53,356 8yr $54,869 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (114)
48%
100% (114)
48%
100% (114)
48%
100% (114)
48%

How Eastern Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation57%Earnings 10yr$55KNet Price$25KRetention76%Median Debt$25KPell Grant Rate33%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$23K$0-30K$20K$30-48K$20K$48-75K$29K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%5.2%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%19.2%MOBILITY1.00%

College ROI Calculator

Is Eastern Mennonite University Worth It?

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

Yes — for most students, Eastern Mennonite University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $24,588/year ($98,352 total). Graduates earn $54,869 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,278,496 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,180,144 (13.0× your investment). The median debt is $24,813, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 57% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$98,352
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,278,496
Net Return
$1,180,144
ROI Multiple
13.0×
Cost Per Year
$24,588
Median Debt
$24,813
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
57%

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 Eastern Mennonite University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Eastern Mennonite University 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 1.00%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 5.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 19.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $90,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
1.00%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
19.2%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
5.2%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$90,700

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Eastern Mennonite University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Eastern Mennonite University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.68, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 11% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.68
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
-0.02
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
11.2%
Support Ratio
1.00
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Federal Grants
$3,183,976
Investment Income
$-6,351,792

Top Programs

The fields Eastern Mennonite University 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Eastern Mennonite University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Harrisonburg, Virginia, Eastern Mennonite University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 100%. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 30. The graduation rate is roughly 57%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Eastern Mennonite University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Eastern Mennonite University is $43,920, 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 $24,588. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $22,994 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $24,813 in federal student loans.

Is Eastern Mennonite University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Eastern Mennonite University earn a median of $54,869, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

Does Eastern Mennonite University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Eastern Mennonite University 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 1.00%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 5.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 19.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $90,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is Eastern Mennonite University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Eastern Mennonite University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.68, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 11% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

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

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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.

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