Head-to-head comparison
Goshen College vs Earlham College: which has better ROI?
Option A Goshen, IN
Goshen College
- Net price / year
- $14,493
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,943
- Payback
- 16.2 yrs
Option B Richmond, IN
Earlham College
- Net price / year
- $24,714
- Earnings, 10 years
- $50,797
- Payback
- 40.6 yrs
Goshen College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $57,972 in 16.2 years versus 40.6 years at Earlham College, on median earnings of $51,943 vs $50,797 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Goshen College | Earlham College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,493 | $24,714 |
| Total net cost | $57,972 | $98,856 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $51,943 | $50,797 |
| Median debt | $22,974 | $23,488 |
| Payback | 16.2 yrs | 40.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $13,688 | -$50,116 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Goshen College or Earlham College?
Goshen College, at $14,493 a year after aid versus $24,714 — a gap of $10,221 a year, or $40,884 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Goshen College or Earlham College graduates earn more?
Goshen College graduates report a median $51,943 ten years after entry, $1,146 more than the $50,797 at Earlham College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Goshen College or Earlham College?
Goshen College: its completers carry a median $22,974 in federal loans versus $23,488 at Earlham College, a difference of $514. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
69% of students finish at Earlham College, against 65% at Goshen College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.