Students at Beloit College benefit from an environment that consistently converts educational opportunity into meaningful advancement, with mobility outcomes ranking in the top 15% nationally.
The college's personalized approach particularly supports students from diverse backgrounds, creating pathways to career success that extend well beyond graduation.
Beloit College is a small private liberal arts institution in Wisconsin that emphasizes personalized education and intellectual exploration over immediate financial returns. While graduates earn a median of $53,260 ten years after enrollment, the college's value proposition centers on the transformative educational experience rather than purely economic outcomes. The institution serves a moderately diverse student body, with about 29% receiving Pell Grants and 19% being first-generation college students, though access metrics remain more limited than at larger public institutions.
What distinguishes Beloit is its commitment to close faculty-student relationships and interdisciplinary learning. The college's small size allows for highly personalized attention, with students often working directly with professors on research projects and developing mentoring relationships that extend well beyond graduation. Completion rates are solid, with 67% of students graduating within six years and Pell recipients actually outperforming the overall student body with a 76% six-year graduation rate.
As a traditional liberal arts college, Beloit attracts students who prioritize intellectual curiosity, critical thinking development, and the kind of broad-based education that may not immediately translate to high starting salaries but often leads to meaningful careers in fields like education, social work, research, and public service. The college's approach reflects a different philosophy about higher education value—one that emphasizes personal growth, analytical skills, and lifelong learning over short-term financial metrics.
Beloit College's program portfolio reflects the classic liberal arts model, with psychology leading both in enrollment and aggregate return despite modest individual earnings. The 39 psychology graduates represent the college's largest cohort, earning around $28,133 early in their careers but often pursuing graduate education or careers in counseling, research, and human services where compensation grows over time.
Analytical chemistry stands out as the highest-earning program, with 20 graduates earning approximately $40,821, reflecting the strong job market for science graduates with laboratory skills. This program demonstrates Beloit's ability to prepare students for immediately lucrative technical careers while maintaining the liberal arts emphasis on critical thinking and research skills.
Anthropology, with 26 graduates earning around $20,482, exemplifies the liberal arts approach where early earnings may appear modest but graduates often pursue graduate school, museum work, cultural consulting, or international development careers that provide meaningful work and long-term earning potential. The program's size reflects Beloit's commitment to disciplines that develop analytical and cultural competency skills valued in many professional contexts, even if the immediate financial returns appear limited.
Beloit College graduates earn a median of $53,260 ten years after enrollment, which places the institution in the above-average range nationally but reflects the typical earnings pattern for liberal arts colleges. The financial outcomes vary significantly by field of study, with some programs leading to stronger early-career earnings than others. About 27 graduates earn more than $75,000 annually, indicating that while median outcomes are moderate, some students do achieve higher income levels as their careers develop.
The college's program mix heavily influences earnings patterns. Psychology, the largest program with 39 graduates, produces the highest aggregate return despite relatively modest individual earnings of around $28,133. Analytical Chemistry offers the strongest individual earnings at $40,821 for its 20 graduates, while Anthropology, with 26 graduates, shows more modest early-career outcomes at $20,482. These figures reflect the reality that many liberal arts fields require additional education or time to reach peak earning potential.
Beloit's approach prioritizes intellectual development and critical thinking skills that often translate to career advancement over time, even if starting salaries appear modest. The college's small size and strong alumni network can provide valuable connections and mentorship opportunities that may not show up in early earnings data but contribute to long-term career success. Many graduates pursue graduate school or enter fields where the true financial benefits emerge later in their careers.
Beloit College's affordability varies significantly by family income level, with the institution providing substantial financial aid to lower-income students while remaining expensive for middle and upper-income families. Low-income students pay a net price of about $16,637 annually, which represents strong affordability for a private liberal arts college. Middle-income families face costs around $18,491 per year, while high-income families pay approximately $28,465, reflecting the college's commitment to need-based aid.
The debt picture requires careful consideration for prospective families. Typical graduates leave with about $25,738 in federal student loan debt, a manageable level given the college's outcomes, though families should plan for repayment carefully. Parent PLUS borrowing averages $30,250, which represents a more substantial commitment that families need to evaluate against their income and other financial obligations. The college maintains a 0% federal loan default rate, suggesting that graduates generally manage their debt obligations successfully.
For families who value the small college experience and can manage the financial commitment, Beloit's aid structure makes the education accessible across income levels. The key consideration is whether the premium for small class sizes, personalized attention, and the liberal arts environment aligns with family priorities and financial capacity, particularly given that earnings may take time to reach levels that easily support higher debt loads.
Beloit College Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
