Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Defiance College #1402 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $46,468, placing Defiance College in the 3.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Defiance College #1388 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. ---
Azimuth ranks Defiance College #1402 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private master's university in Defiance, Ohio, Defiance College enrolls roughly 499 undergraduates. Retention stands at 55.6% and the six-year graduation rate is 30.6%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a residential liberal arts institution. Where Defiance College performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Defiance College #1388 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $17,214 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Defiance College in the 8.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance reflects the institution's strength in Business and related fields that connect directly to stable career pathways. Access and affordability anchor the composite at different levels. Defiance College enrolls 49.8% Pell-eligible students and 35.5% first-generation undergraduates, positioning the institution in the 71.1 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. Affordability sits in the 19.6 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting the tuition structure and financial aid reach typical of private master's institutions. For families evaluating long-term value, the combination of manageable scale, strong earnings outcomes, and broad access makes Defiance College a meaningful option in the regional private college landscape.
Defiance College's published cost of attendance is $53,667. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $27,196, middle-income families pay around $25,884, and higher-income families pay approximately $26,637. Azimuth ranks Defiance College #1146 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. Defiance College participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside institutional aid. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile to determine eligibility for need-based scholarships and grants. The affordability rank reflects both the headline cost and the debt load graduates carry: understanding the gap between published sticker price and actual net price is essential when comparing institutions. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,813, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $30,425; 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 $46,468, median federal debt of $26,813 projects to a monthly payment of about $303 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Defiance College is a good fit for students interested in business and related fields who want a small private college experience in OH. The institution's program mix is concentrated in Business, representing 18% of graduates. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $46,468, placing Defiance College in the 3.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn about $17,214 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 8.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The college serves a mix of students, with 49.8% of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants and 35.5% being first-generation. The published net price for higher-income families is $26,637, with median federal debt at graduation of $26,813. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 47.5% admit rate makes the application process moderately selective, and the program mix favors business-oriented fields over some other disciplines. Students whose interests align with those areas will find the most direct pathways.
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
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Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Defiance College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Defiance College's published cost of attendance is $53,667. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $27,196, middle-income families pay around $25,884, and higher-income families pay approximately $26,637.
Azimuth ranks Defiance College #1146 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.
Defiance College participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside institutional aid. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile to determine eligibility for need-based scholarships and grants.
The affordability rank reflects both the headline cost and the debt load graduates carry: understanding the gap between published sticker price and actual net price is essential when comparing institutions. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,813, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $30,425; 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 $46,468, median federal debt of $26,813 projects to a monthly payment of about $303 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 Defiance College earn median 4-year earnings of $46,468, placing Defiance College in the 3.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $17,214 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Defiance College in the 8.2 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Defiance College #1388 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Defiance College's concentration in business and applied fields.
Kinesiology is the largest program with 13 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $39,980, representing 0.7x the national benchmark for the field. The Business/Commerce, General program graduates 13 students with median 4-year earnings of $46,536, and Criminal Justice delivers median 4-year earnings of $54,633 across 9 graduates.
These programs anchor the institution's economic profile and align with regional labor-market demand in OH.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Bethel University Higher acceptance rate (56.3 percentage points higher) and located 99 miles away; similar graduate earnings | IN | 99% | $48,860 | Compare |
University Of Toledo Higher acceptance rate (52.4 percentage points higher) and located 46 miles away; similar graduate earnings | OH | 95% | $50,632 | Compare |
Bluffton University Higher acceptance rate (18.7 percentage points higher) and located 37 miles away; similar graduate earnings | OH | 61% | $49,547 | Compare |
University Of Nebraska At Kearney Higher acceptance rate (43.4 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | NE | 86% | $50,105 | Compare |
Vandercook College Of Music Higher acceptance rate (54.9 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | IL | 97% | $47,863 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Edp University Of Puerto Rico-Manati Similar quality tier (#36209 ranked) | PR | 68% | $22,844 | #36209 | Compare |
Montreat College Similar quality tier (#36208 ranked) | NC | 69% | $45,151 | #36208 | Compare |
Coker University Similar quality tier (#36211 ranked) | SC | 94% | $40,117 | #36211 | Compare |
La Roche University Similar quality tier (#36207 ranked) | PA | 76% | $52,341 | #36207 | Compare |
Otis College Of Art And Design Similar quality tier (#36212 ranked) | CA | 82% | $58,152 | #36212 | Compare |
Criminal Justice and Corrections
9 graduates
Social Work
7 graduates
Business/Commerce, General
13 graduates
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
13 graduates
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
5 graduates
Defiance College's program mix is anchored in business and professional fields, reflecting the institution's identity as a private liberal arts college with applied career focus. Kinesiology is the largest program with 13 graduates, followed by Business/Commerce, General, Criminal Justice, Social Work, and Subject-Specific Teacher Education.
The institution's program portfolio emphasizes Business, which accounts for 18% of degrees, alongside Education at 16% and Arts at 4%. Among the 0 programs meeting Azimuth's ranking threshold, several deliver strong four-year earnings outcomes.
Criminal Justice leads with median earnings of $54,633 four years after enrollment from 9 graduates, while Social Work graduates earn $50,745 and Business/Commerce, General graduates earn $46,536. Kinesiology rounds out the highest-earning programs with median earnings of $39,980.
These outcomes reflect the institution's strength in applied professional fields where graduates move directly into the workforce. The earnings pattern across Defiance College's portfolio shows consistent outcomes in business and professional pathways.
Most of the institution's dominant programs are high-mobility fields where graduates enter the labor market directly and earnings reflect regional and national employment demand. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these professional fields align with current labor-market trends and hiring patterns.
