Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Franklin College #1172 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $13,103 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Franklin College in the 13.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Franklin College sits in the 29.8 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Franklin College's composite ranking reflects strong financial outcomes relative to cost, with graduates consistently outperforming expectations. The institution's focus on business and professional programs contributes to these durable financial results.
Azimuth ranks Franklin College #1172 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private baccalaureate college in Franklin, IN, Franklin College enrolls roughly 900 undergraduates. Retention is 72.9% and the six-year graduation rate is 60.3%, reflecting solid student persistence through degree completion. Where Franklin College performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Franklin College #1038 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $53,224, and Franklin College sits in the 13.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance reflects the institution's concentration in Business, a field that consistently delivers strong early-career financial outcomes for graduates entering the workforce. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Franklin College sits in the 35.3 percentile for access and the 24.2 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. As a smaller private institution, Franklin College enrolls 36.4% Pell-eligible students and 29.4% first-generation college students. The institution's mobility outcomes — how well graduates from low-income backgrounds fare economically — sit in the 40.7 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. For prospective students weighing affordability and financial aid, Financial GPS tool provides personalized cost projections by major and earnings scenario.
Franklin College's published cost of attendance is $54,178. Net price by income band shows how financial aid reshapes that figure: low-income families pay approximately $14,790, middle-income families pay around $20,093, and higher-income families pay approximately $30,316. Azimuth ranks Franklin College #1080 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. Franklin College's aid structure is need-based, with financial aid applied to reduce the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. The college participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply using the FAFSA, and work-study is available as part of the aid package for eligible students. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $40,380; 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 $53,224, 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.
Franklin College is a strong fit for students interested in Business and similar applied fields who want a private college experience in IN. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $53,224, placing Franklin College in the 13.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $13,103 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 13.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a meaningful share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 36.4% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 29.4% are first-generation — and delivers mobility outcomes that place Franklin College in the 20.3 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions. Published cost of attendance is $30,316, and low-income families pay a net price of approximately $32,990 after need-based aid. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 69.8% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors applied fields over theoretical ones. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find the earnings trajectory and aid package among the strongest in the region.
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 Franklin College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Finance and Financial Management Services
6 graduates
Business/Commerce, General
9 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
17 graduates
Sociology
6 graduates
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
21 graduates
Franklin 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 21 graduates, followed by Business Administration, Psychology, General, Biology, General, and American History (United States).
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 163 students annually, the institution's strongest earnings outcomes cluster in applied business and professional disciplines. The highest-earning programs at Franklin College lead with solid four-year outcomes.
Business/Commerce, General graduates earn median earnings of $84,491 four years after enrollment, with Business Administration delivering $77,821 and Kinesiology reaching $54,636. These programs reflect the institution's strength in fields where employers actively recruit and where early-career compensation reflects direct labor-market entry rather than extended graduate study.
The program portfolio emphasizes direct-to-workforce pathways where four-year earnings reflect immediate professional outcomes. Business represents the institutional core, positioning graduates for roles in management, finance, accounting, and related applied-business fields.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these dominant program families align with national labor-market demand and wage trends in professional services sectors.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Miami University-Oxford Higher acceptance rate (11.5 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 70 miles away; similar graduate earnings | OH | 82% | $55,076 | Compare |
University Of Cincinnati-Main Campus Higher acceptance rate (17.1 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 85 miles away; similar graduate earnings | OH | 88% | $54,810 | Compare |
Indiana State University Higher acceptance rate (20.9 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 73 miles away; similar graduate earnings | IN | 92% | $48,387 | Compare |
University Of Northern Iowa Higher acceptance rate (23.8 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | IA | 94% | $55,177 | Compare |
Saint Cloud State University Higher acceptance rate (24.4 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | MN | 95% | $55,813 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Doane University Similar quality tier in Midwest (#31684 ranked) | NE | 98% | $53,316 | #31684 | Compare |
Ohio Wesleyan University Similar quality tier in Midwest (#31688 ranked) | OH | 56% | $55,624 | #31688 | Compare |
Quincy University Similar quality tier in Midwest (#31683 ranked) | IL | 51% | $50,369 | #31683 | Compare |
Northwest University Similar quality tier (#31691 ranked) | WA | 83% | $54,914 | #31691 | Compare |
Life Pacific University Similar quality tier (#31681 ranked) | CA | 96% | $43,299 | #31681 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Franklin College's published cost of attendance is $54,178. Net price by income band shows how financial aid reshapes that figure: low-income families pay approximately $14,790, middle-income families pay around $20,093, and higher-income families pay approximately $30,316.
Azimuth ranks Franklin College #1080 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.
Franklin College's aid structure is need-based, with financial aid applied to reduce the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. The college participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs.
Families apply using the FAFSA, and work-study is available as part of the aid package for eligible students. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $40,380; 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 $53,224, 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 Franklin College earn median 4-year earnings of $53,224, placing Franklin College in the 13.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $13,103 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Franklin College in the 13.9 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Franklin College #1038 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Franklin College's program portfolio centers on business and related fields, which drive the institution's earnings profile.
Kinesiology is the largest program with 21 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $54,636, performing at 1.0x the national benchmark for the field. The Business Administration program graduates 17 students with median 4-year earnings of $77,821, while Psychology, General and Biology, General round out the core offerings with comparable early-career outcomes.
The concentration in Business — which represents a substantial share of Franklin College's degree output — aligns with the institution's consistent earnings performance and contributes to its competitive return on investment profile among peer institutions.
