Dordt University

Dordt University's published cost of attendance is $51,733. Need-based aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $22,597, families in the lower-middle income band pay around $21,083, middle-income families pay about $24,079, families in the upper-middle income band pay approximately $25,113, and higher-income families pay roughly $29,940.

Azimuth ranks Dordt University #848 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.

Dordt University uses need-based financial aid to close the gap between sticker price and what families pay. The institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs.

Families apply for aid using the FAFSA, and the university's aid office works with families to construct packages that reflect demonstrated financial need. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $18,000; 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 Dordt University's median four-year earnings of $57,567, median federal debt of $21,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $243 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 Dordt University earn median 4-year earnings of $57,567, placing Dordt University in the 32.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $12,607 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Dordt University in the 14.8 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Azimuth ranks Dordt University #1076 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Dordt University's concentration in education and teacher-preparation fields.

Teacher Education is the largest program with 75 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $43,531, and Azimuth ranks the program 0.9× the national benchmark for the field [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). The Mechanical Engineering program graduates 19 students earning $78,118 four years after enrollment, while Nursing and Social Work round out the top programs with 17 and 13 graduates respectively.

The concentration in Education — which represents the institution's primary degree output — drives consistent outcomes across the student body, with graduates entering stable, in-demand roles in schools and educational institutions across the Midwest and nationally.

Dordt University's program mix is anchored in education and teacher preparation, reflecting the institution's mission-driven identity as a private Christian liberal arts university. Teacher Education is the largest program with 75 graduates annually, followed by Mechanical Engineering with 19 graduates, Nursing with 17 graduates, Social Work, and Finance.

Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 274 students annually, the institution's strength concentrates in fields aligned with its teacher-education and faith-based liberal arts focus. The earnings pattern reflects education's labor-market positioning.

Mechanical Engineering graduates earn median earnings of $78,118 four years after enrollment, while Accounting graduates earn $77,629 and Finance graduates earn $74,869. Nursing and Teacher Education round out the highest-earning programs at the institution.

The concentration in Education and related fields—including Mechanical Engineering, Nursing, and Social Work—reflects Dordt University's positioning as a teacher-preparation-focused institution in the Midwest. Most of Dordt University's dominant programs are grad-school-dependent or credential-dependent pathways, where four-year earnings reflect early-career teaching salaries and do not fully capture lifetime trajectory.

Teachers often see earnings growth tied to experience, certification advancement, and regional salary schedules. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how education and related fields align with regional and national labor-market demand, particularly in rural and small-city markets where Dordt University graduates often serve.