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Maharishi International University

Private nonprofit Fairfield, IA · Town · Plains · 93% data
A+ Diversity C+ Affordability D+ Value
Graduation Rate
34% D
Lower completion rate than most colleges
Earnings (10yr)
$27,981 D
Below average for college graduates
Net Price
$14,956 C+
Close to the national average
Acceptance Rate
96% F
Accessible to most qualified applicants
Earnings -31% vs avg
Graduation -40% vs avg
Net Price +-13% vs avg

Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 9.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $9.9 over 20 years.

9.9× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $9.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $534,435.

What The Data Says

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

  2. Graduate earnings fall 31% below the national college median.

  3. Graduation of 34% — 40% below the national average.

  4. Every $1 invested returns $9.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

About Maharishi International University

Maharishi International University 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 University
Carnegie Class
Master's University
Enrollment
922
Setting
Town
Primary Strengths
Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Humanities, Visual & Performing Arts

Why students choose Maharishi International University

Strength in Business & Marketing
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

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

C-
Top 64% overall
D
Earnings
$27,981 median
D+
Value
1.9× net price
C+
Affordability
$14,956/yr net
D
Graduation
34% graduate
F
Selectivity
96% admit rate
A+
Diversity
0.83 index

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

How we grade →

Overview

Maharishi International University has an acceptance rate of 96%. This means nearly all applicants have a chance to enroll, making it accessible to a wide range of students. With a total enrollment of 922, the university fosters a close-knit community where students can engage closely with faculty and peers.

Chetty/Opportunity Insights data shows limited information on mobility for students at this university. The graduation rate stands at 34%, which may raise concerns about student retention and long-term success. Graduates earn an average of $27,981 within ten years of completing their degree, indicating a modest return on investment for their education.

The net price to attend Maharishi International University is $14,956, and the median debt for graduates is $24,781. With 57% of students receiving Pell Grants, financial aid plays a significant role in making education more affordable. Students who thrive here are often those drawn to programs in Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Humanities, Visual & Performing Arts, and Computer Science & IT.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Maharishi International 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 Maharishi International University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a private institution in Fairfield, Iowa, Maharishi International University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 96%. The graduation rate is roughly 34%.

Acceptance Rate
96%
Retention Rate
61%
Full-Time Faculty
94%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$4,582
Student–Faculty Ratio
13:1
Diversity Index
0.83
First-Gen Students
34%
Applicants
70
Admitted
66

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 Maharishi International University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Maharishi International University is $16,530, 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 $14,956. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $14,269 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $24,781 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$16,530
Out-of-State
$16,530
Avg Net Price
$14,956
Median Debt
$24,781
Pell Grant Rate
57%
Federal Loan Rate
65%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$14,269
Family Income $30K–$48K
$16,585
Family Income $48K–$75K
$14,066

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 Maharishi International University — 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 Maharishi International University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Maharishi International University report median earnings of $27,981, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

6 Years After Entry
$26,468
8 Years
$29,723
10 Years
$27,981
Debt-to-Earnings
0.89x
Earning > $25K
29%

Earnings Trajectory

$26,468 6yr $29,723 8yr $27,981 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (6)
29%
100% (6)
29%
100% (6)
29%
100% (6)
29%

How Maharishi Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation34%Earnings 10yr$28KNet Price$15KRetention61%Median Debt$25KPell Grant Rate57%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$14K$0-30K$17K$30-48K$14K$48-75K

College ROI Calculator

Is Maharishi International University Worth It?

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

Yes — for most students, Maharishi International University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $14,956/year ($59,824 total). Graduates earn $27,981 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $594,259 in total earnings — a net gain of $534,435 (9.9× your investment). The median debt is $24,781, 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)
$59,824
Projected 20yr Earnings
$594,259
Net Return
$534,435
ROI Multiple
9.9×
Cost Per Year
$14,956
Median Debt
$24,781
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
34%

Does It Change Lives?

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

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Federal Grants
$56,000
Investment Income
$399,000

Top Programs

The fields Maharishi International University 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Maharishi International University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a private institution in Fairfield, Iowa, Maharishi International University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 96%. The graduation rate is roughly 34%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Maharishi International University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Maharishi International University is $16,530, 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 $14,956. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $14,269 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $24,781 in federal student loans.

Is Maharishi International University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Maharishi International University report median earnings of $27,981, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

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Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Maharishi International University.

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.

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