Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Hamline University #742 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $5,920 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Hamline University in the 78.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Hamline University #627 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Azimuth ranks Hamline University #742 for overall value on its composite, reflecting balanced performance across access, mobility, and return on investment. Graduates earn about $5,920 more than similar students at comparable institutions, with median 4-year earnings of $61,017 placing the institution in the 46.3 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Hamline University #742 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private master's university in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Hamline University enrolls roughly 1,776 undergraduates. Retention stands at 78.2% and the six-year graduation rate is 60.5%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a residential liberal arts–focused institution. Where Hamline University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Hamline University #627 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $5,920 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Hamline University in the 78.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance reflects the university's strength in Business and related fields where employers actively recruit and early-career earnings grow steadily. Access and affordability anchor the composite at lower percentiles. Hamline University enrolls 40.7% Pell-eligible undergraduates and 23.2% first-generation students, placing the institution in the 40.2 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. Affordability sits in the 49.9 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting the tuition structure of a private master's institution offset by institutional aid. Mobility outcomes rank in the 50.5 percentile, indicating that while graduates achieve solid earnings, the institution serves a smaller low-income cohort relative to larger public peers.
Hamline University's published cost of attendance is $58,110. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $15,371; middle-income families pay around $16,767; higher-income families pay approximately $27,196. Azimuth ranks Hamline University #715 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. Hamline University participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside institutional aid. The difference between published cost and net price reflects the institution's financial aid commitment; families should review the net price illusion to understand how sticker price and actual cost diverge. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $23,770, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $22,739; 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 $61,017, median federal debt of $23,770 projects to a monthly payment of about $269 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Hamline University is a strong fit for students interested in business and applied fields who want a private nonprofit university experience in Saint Paul, MN. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $61,017, placing Hamline University in the 46.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $5,920 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 78.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a meaningful share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 40.7% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 23.2% are first-generation — and delivers completion rates that place Hamline University in the 60.7% percentile for Pell graduation rates among nonprofit four-year institutions. Published cost of attendance is $27,196, and low-income families pay a net price of approximately $27,196 after need-based aid. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 87.6% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors business and applied fields over STEM-oriented ones. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find Hamline University a strong option in MN.
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 Hamline University 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.
Hamline University's published cost of attendance is $58,110. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels.
Low-income families pay approximately $15,371; middle-income families pay around $16,767; higher-income families pay approximately $27,196. Azimuth ranks Hamline University #715 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. Hamline University participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside institutional aid.
The difference between published cost and net price reflects the institution's financial aid commitment; families should review the [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) to understand how sticker price and actual cost diverge. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $23,770, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $22,739; 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 $61,017, median federal debt of $23,770 projects to a monthly payment of about $269 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 Hamline University earn median 4-year earnings of $61,017, placing Hamline University in the 46.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $5,920 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Hamline University in the 78.6 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Hamline University #627 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Hamline University's concentration in business and professional fields.
Psychology, General is the largest program with 48 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $45,927, performing at 0.9x the national benchmark for the field. The Criminology program graduates 45 students with median 4-year earnings of $60,757, while Non-Professional Legal Studies and Business Administration round out the institution's largest programs.
These fields align with Business as the dominant program family, anchoring the institution's overall earnings profile and supporting consistent outcomes across the student body.
Business Administration, Management and Operations
23 graduates
Non-Professional Legal Studies
36 graduates
Criminology
45 graduates
Communication and Media Studies
14 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
16 graduates
Hamline University's program mix is anchored in business and professional fields, reflecting the institution's identity as a private liberal arts university in the Twin Cities. Psychology, General is the largest program with 48 graduates, followed by Criminology, Non-Professional Legal Studies, Digital Marketing, and Business Administration.
The Business concentration—accounting for 19% of degrees—positions Hamline University as a professional-outcomes-focused institution where career readiness and employer alignment shape the academic portfolio. Among the ranked programs, several deliver strong four-year earnings outcomes.
Business Administration leads with median earnings of $72,945 four years after enrollment, followed by Non-Professional Legal Studies at $65,460, Criminology at $60,757, and Political Science at $53,252. The earnings pattern reflects Hamline University's strength in applied business and professional fields where graduates enter the workforce directly and encounter stable labor-market demand.
The program portfolio balances Business at 19% with Social Sciences at 18% and Arts at 5%, creating a diversified but professionally oriented degree mix. This concentration in applied and professional pathways means most graduates enter the labor market directly rather than pursuing graduate study, making four-year earnings a reliable indicator of institutional outcomes.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Hamline University's dominant program families align with regional and national labor-market trends.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Roosevelt University Similar quality tier in Midwest (#19219 ranked) | IL | 97% | $48,712 | #19219 | Compare |
Vanguard University Of Southern California Similar quality tier (#19216 ranked) | CA | 62% | $59,541 | #19216 | Compare |
Concordia University-Irvine Similar quality tier (#19211 ranked) | CA | 66% | $65,083 | #19211 | Compare |
Gettysburg College Similar quality tier (#19233 ranked) | PA | 39% | $71,517 | #19233 | Compare |
Central Methodist University-College Of Graduate And Extended Studies Similar quality tier in Midwest (#19236 ranked) | MO | 57% | $48,991 | #19236 | Compare |
