Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Goucher College #1263 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $12,118 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Goucher College in the 16.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Goucher College #1259 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Goucher College #1263 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private baccalaureate college in Baltimore, Maryland, Goucher College enrolls roughly 964 undergraduates. Retention is 78.6% and the six-year graduation rate is 57.3%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a residential liberal arts institution. Goucher College performs strongest in return on investment. Azimuth ranks Goucher College #1259 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $57,036, and earn about $12,118 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Goucher College in the 16.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This earnings advantage reflects the college's strength in Psychology and related fields that connect directly to stable career pathways. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Goucher College sits in the 28.0 percentile for access and the 27.6 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting both selective admissions and the higher sticker price typical of private liberal arts colleges. 35.2% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 17.6% are first-generation college students. For families who qualify for need-based aid, Goucher College's financial aid policies work to narrow the gap between published cost and actual family contribution, though the starting price point remains a meaningful consideration for affordability-conscious students.
Goucher College's published cost of attendance is $70,544. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $13,471, families in the lower-middle income band pay around $18,066, middle-income families pay about $20,403, families in the upper-middle income band pay approximately $24,781, and higher-income families pay around $32,220. Azimuth ranks Goucher College #1032 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. Goucher College meets demonstrated financial need through need-based aid, with no merit component. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile. The aid structure combines grants, loans, and work-study; the proportion of each varies by family circumstances and the institution's aid policies. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $39,769; 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 $57,036, median federal debt of $26,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $294 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Goucher College is a strong fit for students drawn to psychology and the social sciences who want a private liberal arts college experience in Baltimore, MD. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $57,036, placing Goucher College in the 31.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $12,118 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Goucher College in the 16.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a meaningful share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 35.2% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 17.6% are first-generation — and delivers mobility outcomes that place Goucher College in the 92.8 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 two realistic filters: the 77.7% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors psychology and social sciences over STEM fields. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find the earnings trajectory and aid package competitive among nonprofit four-year institutions.
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
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This is the Goucher College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Business Administration, Management and Operations
25 graduates
Communication and Media Studies
16 graduates
Economics
16 graduates
English Language and Literature, General
5 graduates
Psychology, General
46 graduates
Goucher College's program mix is anchored in psychology and social sciences, reflecting the institution's liberal arts identity. Psychology, General is the largest program with 46 graduates, followed by Business Administration, Communication and Media Studies, Economics, and Education, General.
The strongest earnings outcomes cluster in applied fields. Business Administration graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $65,402 with 25 graduates, while Communication and Media Studies graduates earn $52,752 and Economics graduates earn $51,727.
Psychology, General rounds out the higher-earning programs with median 4-year earnings of $44,901. Several programs represent pathways where graduates often continue to graduate or professional school, particularly Psychology and related social sciences.
The applied professional programs show workforce-entry outcomes aligned with national labor-market trends.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Goucher College's published cost of attendance is $70,544. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $13,471, families in the lower-middle income band pay around $18,066, middle-income families pay about $20,403, families in the upper-middle income band pay approximately $24,781, and higher-income families pay around $32,220.
Azimuth ranks Goucher College #1032 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.
Goucher College meets demonstrated financial need through need-based aid, with no merit component. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile.
The aid structure combines grants, loans, and work-study; the proportion of each varies by family circumstances and the institution's aid policies. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $39,769; 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 $57,036, median federal debt of $26,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $294 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 Goucher College earn median 4-year earnings of $57,036, placing Goucher College in the 31.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $12,118 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Goucher College in the 16.2 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Goucher College #1259 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These outcomes reflect a solid long-term financial payoff for students completing a degree at this liberal arts college.
The earnings pattern centers on Psychology, which anchors the institution's economic profile. Psychology, General is the largest program with 46 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $44,901, performing at 0.9× the national benchmark for the field [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/).
The Business Administration program graduates 25 students with median 4-year earnings of $65,402, at 1.0× the benchmark. Communication and Media Studies and Economics round out the top programs, with 16 and 16 graduates respectively earning $52,752 and $51,727 four years after enrollment.
This program mix reflects Goucher's strength in social sciences and humanities fields, where graduates build careers in counseling, education, nonprofit leadership, and related sectors that support stable mid-career earnings growth.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Reinhardt University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#34965 ranked) | GA | 62% | $46,541 | #34965 | Compare |
Rochester University Similar quality tier (#34964 ranked) | MI | 98% | $48,707 | #34964 | Compare |
Ozark Christian College Similar quality tier (#34967 ranked) | MO | 94% | $41,297 | #34967 | Compare |
Seton Hill University Similar quality tier (#34963 ranked) | PA | 80% | $51,748 | #34963 | Compare |
Huntingdon College Similar quality tier in Southeast (#34961 ranked) | AL | 69% | $49,601 | #34961 | Compare |
