Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Hanover College #876 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $56,221, placing Hanover College in the 30.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Hanover College #638 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Hanover College's composite ranking reflects strong outcomes across multiple dimensions, with particular strength in return on investment. The institution's median graduate earnings place it well above typical outcomes for nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Hanover College #876 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private baccalaureate college in Hanover, Indiana, Hanover College enrolls roughly 1,031 undergraduates. Retention is 81.8% and the six-year graduation rate is 67.1%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a residential liberal arts institution. Where Hanover College performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Hanover College #638 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $56,221, demonstrating meaningful long-term financial outcomes. The institution's program portfolio centers on Biological Sciences, which aligns with stable career pathways and employer demand in health and life sciences fields. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Hanover College enrolls 25.8% Pell-eligible students and 25.3% first-generation undergraduates, reflecting a selective admissions posture typical of private liberal arts colleges. Azimuth ranks Hanover College in the 9.9 percentile for access and the 30.8 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Mobility outcomes sit in the 74.4 percentile. For admitted students, the combination of strong return on investment and residential liberal arts breadth positions Hanover College as a solid choice for families prioritizing long-term earnings and academic depth over maximum affordability.
Hanover College's published cost of attendance is $58,821, but need-based aid reshapes that figure across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $16,832; middle-income families pay around $16,944; higher-income families pay approximately $27,030. Azimuth ranks Hanover College #986 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. Hanover College's aid structure is need-based, with financial aid distributed through federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional sources. Families apply using the FAFSA to determine eligibility, and the college works to meet demonstrated financial need through a combination of grants, scholarships, and loans. The aid process takes into account family income and assets to determine each student's expected family contribution. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,250, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $41,531; 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 $56,221, median federal debt of $25,250 projects to a monthly payment of about $285 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Hanover College is a strong fit for students interested in the biological sciences who want a small private liberal arts college experience in IN. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $56,221, placing Hanover College in the 30.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a meaningful share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 25.8% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 25.3% are first-generation. Published cost of attendance is $27,030, with median federal debt at graduation of $25,250. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 83.7% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors Biological Sciences fields. Students whose interests align with these areas will find strong outcomes at this private university.
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 Hanover College 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.
Hanover College's published cost of attendance is $58,821, but need-based aid reshapes that figure across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $16,832; middle-income families pay around $16,944; higher-income families pay approximately $27,030.
Azimuth ranks Hanover College #986 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.
Hanover College's aid structure is need-based, with financial aid distributed through federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional sources. Families apply using the FAFSA to determine eligibility, and the college works to meet demonstrated financial need through a combination of grants, scholarships, and loans.
The aid process takes into account family income and assets to determine each student's expected family contribution. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,250, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $41,531; 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 $56,221, median federal debt of $25,250 projects to a monthly payment of about $285 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 Hanover College earn median 4-year earnings of $56,221, placing Hanover College in the 30.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Hanover College #638 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
These outcomes reflect a student body concentrated in fields where employers actively recruit and where early-career earnings trajectories remain stable over the first decade after graduation. Hanover College's program portfolio centers on Biological Sciences, which accounts for a substantial share of degrees and drives much of the institution's earnings profile.
Psychology, General is the largest program with 31 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $59,512, representing 1.2x the national benchmark for the field. The Kinesiology program graduates 30 students earning $56,668, and the The Biology, General program graduates 29 students earning $61,030.
Together, these programs form the core of Hanover College's degree output and contribute meaningfully to the institution's overall earnings outcomes.
Economics
10 graduates
Biology, General
29 graduates
Psychology, General
31 graduates
Communication and Media Studies
28 graduates
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
30 graduates
Hanover College's program mix is anchored in biological sciences and health-related fields, a signature aligned with the institution's liberal arts identity and regional workforce demand. Psychology, General is the largest program with 31 graduates, followed by Kinesiology, Biology, General, Communication and Media Studies, and Business/Commerce, General.
Across 18 total programs, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, with several delivering solid four-year earnings outcomes for graduates entering healthcare, education, and professional service sectors. The earnings pattern reflects strength in applied health and science fields.
Biology, General graduates earn median earnings of $61,030 four years after enrollment, while Psychology, General graduates earn $59,512 and Communication and Media Studies graduates earn $58,227. These outcomes are consistent with Hanover College's positioning as a private liberal arts college where pre-professional preparation in biology, chemistry, and related disciplines leads to direct entry into healthcare professions and graduate-level study.
Kinesiology rounds out the earnings leaders at $56,668, reflecting the institution's depth in science-adjacent fields. Several of these programs are grad-school-dependent pathways where four-year earnings undercount lifetime trajectory because a meaningful share of graduates continue to medical school, dental school, or graduate study in the sciences.
Biology, chemistry, and related pre-professional majors fall into this category, where early-career earnings reflect those entering the workforce directly while others pursue advanced degrees that reshape their long-term financial outcomes. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Hanover College's dominant program families align with regional and national workforce demand in healthcare and life sciences.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Georgian Court University Similar quality tier (#25906 ranked) | NJ | 79% | $53,096 | #25906 | Compare |
Saint Mary's College Of California Similar quality tier (#25907 ranked) | CA | 87% | $78,812 | #25907 | Compare |
Chatham University Similar quality tier (#25914 ranked) | PA | 62% | $52,410 | #25914 | Compare |
Cumberland University Similar quality tier (#25380 ranked) | TN | 67% | $57,687 | #25380 | Compare |
Johnson College Similar quality tier (#25919 ranked) | PA | 98% | $55,194 | #25919 | Compare |
