Students at Gordon College achieve above-average earnings that reflect the value of personalized liberal arts education and strong career preparation.
The college's focus on academic quality and professional development helps graduates succeed in competitive job markets despite its small size.
Gordon College ranks among the top third of institutions nationally for long-term earnings outcomes, with graduates achieving a 70th percentile performance that reflects the value of its small, private college model. Located in Wenham, Massachusetts, this small Christian liberal arts college serves about 1,600 students with an emphasis on personalized education and strong faculty-student relationships.
What distinguishes Gordon is its ability to deliver solid career preparation despite its modest size and liberal arts focus. Graduates earn a median of $52,119 ten years after enrollment, placing the college well above average for long-term financial outcomes. The institution maintains strong completion rates, with about 68% of students graduating within six years, and those completion rates hold steady even for Pell-eligible students.
As a "Selective Achievers" institution, Gordon demonstrates the classic private college trade-off: it serves a more affluent student body but delivers strong outcomes for those who attend. While only about 21% of students receive Pell Grants, reflecting limited socioeconomic diversity, the college's focus on academic quality and career preparation helps explain why graduates consistently outperform many of their peers in the job market.
Gordon College's program portfolio reflects its liberal arts mission while maintaining focus on career-relevant fields. Business Administration and Management stands out as both popular and financially rewarding, with 36 graduates earning a median of $46,556 and representing the college's highest aggregate return program. This reflects Gordon's success in combining liberal arts breadth with practical business skills that employers value.
Adult and Continuing Education, while serving fewer students with 29 graduates, demonstrates the college's commitment to non-traditional learners and produces solid earnings outcomes at $33,459. The presence of programs like these shows how Gordon adapts its liberal arts model to serve diverse student populations and career goals.
As a small institution, Gordon doesn't graduate large numbers in any single field, but this focused approach allows for personalized attention and strong faculty-student relationships that benefit career preparation. The college's Massachusetts location provides access to Boston's job market, where liberal arts graduates often find opportunities in education, nonprofit work, business services, and other professional fields that value the critical thinking and communication skills that Gordon emphasizes.
Gordon College graduates see solid long-term financial returns that justify the investment in a private liberal arts education. Ten years after enrollment, they earn a median of $52,119, placing the college in the 71st percentile nationally for graduate earnings. This performance reflects the college's success in preparing students for stable, professional careers despite its small size and liberal arts orientation.
The strongest returns come from business and professional programs. Business Administration and Management leads with 36 graduates earning a median of $46,556, representing the college's highest aggregate return program. Adult and Continuing Education graduates, though fewer in number at 29 students, achieve some of the highest individual earnings at $33,459. These programs demonstrate how Gordon's focused approach to career-oriented liberal arts education translates into meaningful employment outcomes.
While Gordon's graduates don't reach the earnings peaks seen at large research universities, they achieve consistent, above-average financial outcomes that reflect the value of personalized education and strong alumni networks. The college's Massachusetts location provides access to Boston's diverse job market, where liberal arts graduates often find opportunities in education, nonprofit work, business services, and other professional fields that value critical thinking and communication skills.
Affordability at Gordon College reflects the typical private college model, with higher upfront costs but substantial institutional aid for many families. Low-income students pay about $18,678 annually after aid, while middle-income families see net prices around $23,051, and higher-income families pay approximately $27,522. These figures place Gordon in the bottom third nationally for affordability, reflecting the inherent cost structure of small private institutions.
The college does provide meaningful financial aid to help offset its higher sticker price, though families should expect to contribute significantly more than they would at public institutions. Most students who borrow take on federal loans averaging $26,250, while families often supplement with Parent PLUS loans averaging $28,121. The combination means total family borrowing can be substantial, though Gordon's strong graduation rates and solid earnings outcomes help make this debt manageable for most graduates.
What makes Gordon's pricing sustainable is the combination of strong completion rates and above-average earnings. With nearly 68% of students graduating within six years and median earnings exceeding $52,000 by year ten, most families find that the investment pays off over time, even if the upfront costs require careful financial planning.
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