Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Franklin W Olin College of Engineering #26 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $126,895, placing Franklin W Olin College of Engineering in the 99.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Franklin W Olin College of Engineering #206 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Franklin W Olin College of Engineering graduates achieve some of the strongest early-career earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions, a reflection of the college's concentrated engineering focus and the depth of preparation its graduates bring to technical careers. The return on investment ranking and composite standing together confirm that Olin's outcomes are not just strong in absolute terms — they hold up against the full field of nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Franklin W Olin College of Engineering #206 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in Needham, MA, Franklin W Olin College of Engineering enrolls roughly 377 undergraduates — one of the smallest engineering-focused institutions in the country. Retention is 98.0% and the six-year graduation rate is 96.4%, figures that reflect an unusually tight connection between enrollment and degree completion. Where Franklin W Olin College of Engineering performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Franklin W Olin College of Engineering #26 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $126,895, well above the $57,042 median at comparable institutions. The institution's curriculum is concentrated in Engineering, and that focus channels graduates into career paths where early earnings are consistently strong. Mobility outcomes are also notable — Franklin W Olin College of Engineering sits in the 61.5 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. The composite is shaped by trade-offs common to small, selective institutions. Franklin W Olin College of Engineering admits about 25.2% of applicants, a selectivity level that limits the size of each entering class and the share of low-income students enrolled — 12.1% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Access sits in the 8.7 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, and affordability sits in the 44.1 percentile. For students admitted into its engineering-intensive program, Franklin W Olin College of Engineering delivers some of the strongest early-career in the Azimuth coverage set.
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering publishes a cost of attendance of $86,474, and financial aid reshapes that figure meaningfully across income levels. Middle-low-income families pay approximately $3,100 per year in net price, while middle-income families see costs around $9,528, and middle-high-income families pay approximately $12,271. Higher-income families pay approximately $27,096. Azimuth ranks Franklin W Olin College of Engineering #797 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. Olin's aid structure reflects its unusual institutional model — a small, highly focused engineering college that has historically committed substantial institutional resources to reducing the net cost for admitted students. The gap between the published cost of attendance and what most families actually pay is meaningful, particularly for middle-income families, and the net price illusion is especially relevant here: sticker price alone substantially overstates what most students pay. Families should apply for aid and review their individualized award before drawing conclusions about affordability. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $19,500, compared with a peer median of $25,000 among nonprofit four-year institutions — a notably lower debt load that reflects both Olin's institutional aid generosity and its graduates' strong early earnings. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $126,895, median federal debt of $19,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $220 under standard ten-year repayment. In a downside earnings scenario anchored on Olin's lower-earning program clusters, the same debt at $135,136 in median earnings still represents a manageable payment relative to the income level — though families weighing borrowing decisions should explore scenario-specific projections rather than relying on institution-wide averages. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios, use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering is a strong fit for students who are deeply committed to engineering and want one of the most concentrated, outcomes-focused undergraduate engineering programs in the country — particularly those who thrive in small, collaborative, project-based environments and are prepared for a highly selective application process. The earnings case is compelling. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $126,895, placing Franklin W Olin College of Engineering in the 99.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Franklin W Olin College of Engineering #26 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions, placing it in the 98.3 percentile — a reflection of how strongly the institution's engineering-only program mix translates into early and sustained career earnings. The access picture is narrower than at most institutions. 12.1% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants, and with an admission rate of 25.2%, the pool of admitted students is small and highly competitive. Higher-income families should note that net price for higher-income households runs around $27,096, though Olin's financial aid model is need-based and median student debt at graduation is approximately $19,500. Fit depends on two realistic filters: students must be genuinely engineering-focused, as Engineering represents essentially the entirety of the curriculum, and must be comfortable with a boutique, residential environment far removed from a large research university's breadth. Students whose interests align with applied engineering, robotics, computing, or product design — and who want strong employer visibility from a small, nationally recognized program — will find the financial outcomes among the strongest available at any institution in the Azimuth coverage set.
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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This is the Franklin W Olin College Of Engineering 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.
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering publishes a cost of attendance of $86,474, and financial aid reshapes that figure meaningfully across income levels. Middle-low-income families pay approximately $3,100 per year in net price, while middle-income families see costs around $9,528, and middle-high-income families pay approximately $12,271.
Higher-income families pay approximately $27,096. Azimuth ranks Franklin W Olin College of Engineering #797 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. Olin's aid structure reflects its unusual institutional model — a small, highly focused engineering college that has historically committed substantial institutional resources to reducing the net cost for admitted students.
The gap between the published cost of attendance and what most families actually pay is meaningful, particularly for middle-income families, and the [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) is especially relevant here: sticker price alone substantially overstates what most students pay. Families should apply for aid and review their individualized award before drawing conclusions about affordability.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $19,500, compared with a peer median of $25,000 among nonprofit four-year institutions — a notably lower debt load that reflects both Olin's institutional aid generosity and its graduates' strong early earnings. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $126,895, median federal debt of $19,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $220 under standard ten-year repayment.
In a downside earnings scenario anchored on Olin's lower-earning program clusters, the same debt at $135,136 in median earnings still represents a manageable payment relative to the income level — though families weighing borrowing decisions should explore scenario-specific projections rather than relying on institution-wide averages. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios, use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Franklin W Olin College of Engineering earn median earnings of $126,895 four years after enrollment, placing Franklin W Olin College of Engineering in the 99.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs well above the $57,042 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).
Azimuth ranks Franklin W Olin College of Engineering #26 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. For a small, engineering-focused college in MA, these outcomes reflect a tightly concentrated curriculum that channels nearly every graduate into high-demand technical fields.
The earnings pattern traces directly to Franklin W Olin College of Engineering's singular academic focus. Engineering accounts for 100% of degree output, making Engineering the dominant program family by a wide margin.
Engineering combines the largest cohort with strong pay, anchoring the institution's aggregate return story. Engineering is the highest-earning program, with 38 graduates earning median earnings of $135,136 four years after enrollment; Azimuth ranks the program #1 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/).
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (19 graduates) and Mechanical Engineering (15 graduates) round out the core lineup — a compact portfolio where every major feeds into engineering and applied-science career paths with strong early-career compensation.
Engineering, General
38 graduates
Mechanical Engineering
15 graduates
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
19 graduates
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering's program mix is defined by its engineering identity — Engineering accounts for 100% of degree output, reflecting the college's singular focus as a small, dedicated engineering institution in Needham, Massachusetts. Across 3 programs serving roughly 72 students annually, 1 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold.
The concentrated portfolio means graduates enter a narrow but high-demand set of technical fields rather than spreading across dozens of disciplines. Engineering is the largest program with 38 graduates, and it doubles as the institution's strongest financial performer: Azimuth ranks it #1 nationally [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), with graduates earning median earnings of $135,136 four years after enrollment.
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (19 graduates) and Mechanical Engineering (15 graduates) round out the program roster — a compact set that channels nearly every student into fields where employer demand and starting compensation are consistently strong. Engineering, with 38 graduates earning median earnings of $135,136 four years after enrollment, carries the college's top earnings mark; Azimuth ranks it #1 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The tight engineering focus means Franklin W Olin College of Engineering graduates overwhelmingly enter high-mobility career pathways — technology, advanced manufacturing, robotics, and software — where four-year earnings reflect direct labor-market outcomes rather than grad-school-dependent trajectories. The [supply-demand map](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these fields align with national wage trends and employer hiring patterns. ```
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
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Mcphs University Higher acceptance rate (63.5 percentage points higher) and located 9 miles away; similar graduate earnings | MA | 85% | $125,557 | Compare |
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Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Harvey Mudd College Similar quality tier (#4380 ranked) | CA | 13% | $138,687 | #4380 | Compare |
University Of Health Sciences And Pharmacy In St. Louis Similar quality tier (#4347 ranked) | MO | 90% | $137,047 | #4347 | Compare |
Northeastern University Oakland Similar quality tier (#5420 ranked) | CA | 17% | $92,538 | #5420 | Compare |
University Of Providence Similar quality tier (#5425 ranked) | MT | 50% | $48,296 | #5425 | Compare |
Yeshiva Shaarei Torah Of Rockland Similar quality tier in Northeast (#4315 ranked) | NY | 37% | $89,548 | #4315 | Compare |
