Students at Bryn Mawr College achieve exceptional long-term earnings that place the institution among the top performers nationally for both overall and low-income student outcomes.
The college's combination of rigorous academics and strong alumni networks creates career advantages that compound significantly over time.
Bryn Mawr College delivers exceptional long-term value despite its highly selective admissions and premium pricing structure. As a prestigious women's college, Bryn Mawr combines the intimate learning environment of a small liberal arts institution with remarkably strong career outcomes that place graduates in the 88th percentile nationally for 10-year earnings. The college's median graduate earnings of $75,217 reflect both the quality of education and the ambitious career trajectories that Bryn Mawr students pursue.
What makes Bryn Mawr distinctive is how effectively it serves the students it admits. While only 14% of students receive Pell Grants, reflecting limited socioeconomic diversity, those low-income students who do attend achieve extraordinary success. Low-income graduates earn a median of $63,700 ten years out, placing Bryn Mawr in the top 10% nationally for low-income student outcomes. This performance exemplifies the "Selective Achievers" category—institutions that maintain high academic standards while delivering exceptional mobility outcomes for the students they serve.
The college's small size and intensive academic culture create an environment where students develop both intellectual depth and professional networks that pay dividends throughout their careers. For families who can afford the investment or students who qualify for significant aid, Bryn Mawr represents one of the strongest long-term returns available in American higher education.
Bryn Mawr College's academic strength lies in its comprehensive liberal arts curriculum that prepares students for success across diverse professional fields. English Language and Literature stands out as the program with the highest aggregate return, combining substantial enrollment with strong career outcomes that reflect the college's emphasis on critical thinking, writing, and analytical skills. While specific program earnings data shows English graduates earning $24,035 in early career years, this figure reflects the typical trajectory for liberal arts majors who often pursue graduate education or entry-level positions in competitive fields before achieving their full earning potential.
The college's true strength emerges in how effectively it prepares students for long-term career success regardless of major. Bryn Mawr graduates frequently pursue advanced degrees in law, medicine, business, and academia, where the college's rigorous academic preparation and prestigious reputation provide significant advantages. The institution's small size allows for intensive mentoring and personalized career guidance that helps students navigate competitive application processes and professional opportunities.
As a focused liberal arts institution, Bryn Mawr graduates meaningful cohorts each year across its core academic disciplines, creating concentrated networks of accomplished alumnae in fields ranging from academia and law to business and public service. This network density, combined with the college's academic rigor, helps explain why graduates achieve such strong long-term earnings despite the inherent challenges of liberal arts career paths.
Bryn Mawr College graduates achieve exceptional long-term financial outcomes that justify the institution's premium positioning. Ten years after enrollment, graduates earn a median of $75,217, placing them in the 88th percentile nationally and well above typical outcomes for liberal arts colleges. The college's strong alumni network and rigorous academic preparation translate into career opportunities that continue to compound over time, with over 500 graduates earning more than $75,000 annually.
The college's academic focus on critical thinking, writing, and analytical skills proves particularly valuable in high-earning professional fields. While Bryn Mawr offers a broad liberal arts curriculum, graduates frequently pursue careers in law, medicine, business, academia, and public service—fields where the college's reputation and alumni connections provide significant advantages. English Language and Literature represents the program with the highest aggregate return, reflecting both substantial enrollment and strong career outcomes for graduates who leverage their liberal arts foundation into diverse professional paths.
Bryn Mawr's value proposition centers on long-term career trajectory rather than immediate post-graduation earnings. The college's emphasis on intellectual development, leadership training, and professional networking creates graduates who are well-positioned for advancement in competitive fields. This approach results in earnings that not only meet but often exceed expectations for liberal arts graduates, making Bryn Mawr a strong investment for students who can access its educational opportunities.
Bryn Mawr College operates on a high-tuition, high-aid model that creates dramatically different affordability experiences across income levels. Low-income students pay an average net price of just $3,323 annually, thanks to generous need-based financial aid that covers nearly the full cost of attendance. This exceptional aid makes Bryn Mawr accessible to students from families earning less than $65,000, though the college enrolls relatively few students from these backgrounds.
Middle-income families face more challenging affordability dynamics, with net prices averaging $12,873 annually—still reasonable for a prestigious private college but requiring careful financial planning. High-income families pay close to the full sticker price at $49,566 per year, reflecting Bryn Mawr's positioning as a premium educational investment. The college's aid strategy focuses resources on students with the greatest financial need while expecting higher-income families to pay market rates for the educational value provided.
The college's strong graduation rates and exceptional career outcomes help justify these costs for families who can manage them. With federal loan debt averaging $25,000 and Parent PLUS borrowing at $37,052, most families use a combination of savings, current income, and modest borrowing to finance a Bryn Mawr education. The investment typically pays off through the enhanced career opportunities and earning potential that the college's reputation and network provide.
Bryn Mawr College Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
