Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Adrian College #1327 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $8,292 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 25.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Adrian College sits in the 30.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Adrian College delivers strong financial outcomes for graduates, with earnings that earn about $8,292 less than similar students at comparable institutions compared with similar students nationwide. The institution's composite ranking reflects this performance alongside its broad program mix and accessible pricing structure.
Azimuth ranks Adrian College #1327 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private master's university in Adrian, Michigan, Adrian College enrolls roughly 1,604 undergraduates. Retention stands at 65.4% and the six-year graduation rate is 48.4%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a residential liberal arts–focused institution. Where Adrian College performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Adrian College #977 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $55,233, and Adrian College sits in the 25.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance reflects the institution's strength in business and related professional fields, which dominate the degree portfolio and lead directly into stable, well-paying careers. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Adrian College enrolls 30.8% Pell-eligible students and 31.0% first-generation undergraduates — modest shares that limit the institution's access footprint relative to larger public universities. Azimuth ranks Adrian College in the 30.6 percentile for access and the 18.6 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. For admitted students, the institution's private tuition structure and merit-aid focus shape net pricing differently than public alternatives, a dynamic worth exploring through the Financial GPS tool for families weighing affordability scenarios.
Adrian College's published cost of attendance is $56,003. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $19,542, middle-income families pay around $24,162, and higher-income families pay approximately $28,652. Azimuth ranks Adrian College #1160 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Adrian College uses need-based aid to reshape the sticker price across income levels. The institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile to determine eligibility for need-based scholarships and grants. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $38,405; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $55,233, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Adrian College is a strong fit for students seeking a private liberal arts experience in MI with a focus on Business programs — which represent 25% of graduates — and who prioritize affordability among private universitys. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $55,233, placing Adrian College in the 30.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn about $8,292 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 25.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution serves a mix of traditional and first-generation students — 31.0% of undergraduates are first-generation — with published costs that position it as a relatively affordable option among private universitys. Low-income graduates show outcomes in the 9.0 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure not yet updated to the 4-year horizon. Fit depends on alignment with Business programs and comfort with Midwest's regional labor market, where earnings track the state's no-degree-equivalent baseline of $30,928.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Adrian College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Centenary College Of Louisiana Similar quality tier (#36042 ranked) | LA | 56% | $50,330 | #36042 | Compare |
Endicott College Similar quality tier (#36044 ranked) | MA | 71% | $58,336 | #36044 | Compare |
Missouri Valley College Similar quality tier in Midwest (#36046 ranked) | MO | 69% | $43,221 | #36046 | Compare |
Saint Vincent College Similar quality tier (#36031 ranked) | PA | 62% | $59,982 | #36031 | Compare |
Ursinus College Similar quality tier (#36030 ranked) | PA | 92% | $73,721 | #36030 | Compare |
Accounting and Related Services
17 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
27 graduates
Marketing
24 graduates
Biology, General
29 graduates
Social Work
11 graduates
Adrian College's program mix is anchored in business and professional fields, reflecting the institution's identity as a private liberal arts college. Kinesiology is the largest program with 54 graduates, followed by Criminal Justice, Biology, General, Business Administration, and Subject-Specific Teacher Education.
Across 15 total programs, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, with 283 students graduating annually. The highest-earning programs cluster in business and applied professional fields.
Accounting leads with median 4-year earnings of $77,588 from 17 graduates, followed by Business Administration at $69,654, Digital Marketing at $66,808, Biology, General at $63,816, and Social Work at $54,277. The concentration of earnings strength in business-adjacent fields aligns with Adrian College's dominant program family of Business, which accounts for a substantial share of degree output and graduate employment outcomes.
Several of these programs represent direct-to-workforce pathways where four-year earnings reflect immediate labor-market outcomes in accounting, finance, and management roles. Others, particularly in education and social sciences, serve students who may pursue graduate study or advanced credentials, meaning four-year earnings provide a partial picture of lifetime trajectory.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) offers context for how these fields align with current labor-market conditions and wage trends.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Adrian College's published cost of attendance is $56,003. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $19,542, middle-income families pay around $24,162, and higher-income families pay approximately $28,652.
Azimuth ranks Adrian College #1160 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Adrian College uses need-based aid to reshape the sticker price across income levels. The institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs.
Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile to determine eligibility for need-based scholarships and grants. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $38,405; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $55,233, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Adrian College earn median 4-year earnings of $55,233, placing Adrian College in the 30.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $8,292 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Adrian College in the 25.6 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Adrian College #977 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Adrian College's concentration in business and professional fields.
Kinesiology is the largest program with 54 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $51,559, performing at 0.9x the national benchmark for the field. The Criminal Justice program graduates 33 students with median 4-year earnings of $54,077, while Biology, General and Business Administration round out the top programs with 29 and 27 graduates respectively, earning $63,816 and $69,654.
This program mix — anchored in Business — supports consistent early-career outcomes and positions graduates for stable career pathways in fields with sustained employer demand.
