Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Lane College #696 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $1,435 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Lane College in the 51.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Lane College #986 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. ---
Lane College is a private baccalaureate college in Jackson, Tennessee, enrolling approximately 736 undergraduates. Azimuth ranks Lane College #696 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution maintains a 44.3% freshman retention rate and a 18.4% six-year graduation rate, reflecting solid student persistence through degree completion. Lane College's composite strength is anchored in return on investment. Azimuth ranks Lane College #1364 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $38,716, and Lane College earn about $1,435 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 51.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's dominant program family is Business, which aligns with strong early-career earnings outcomes and reflects the school's focus on career-ready preparation. Access and affordability represent the composite's lower-ranked pillars. Lane College enrolls 78.6% Pell-eligible undergraduates and 44.8% first-generation students, positioning the institution in the 95.9 percentile for access and the 67.6 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. For students who enroll, however, the institution delivers meaningful returns relative to the no-degree baseline and positions graduates toward financial stability through strong early-career earnings and earnings beyond expectations outcomes.
Lane College's published cost of attendance is $23,441. Financial aid reshapes that figure for families across income levels, though the net-price spread at Lane is narrower than at institutions with larger endowments. Low-income families see a net price of approximately $10,904, reflecting need-based aid that closes part of the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. Azimuth ranks Lane College #463 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 pay more and some less than the figures shown. Lane College participates in federal need-based aid programs (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and institutional aid. Families apply using the FAFSA to determine eligibility for need-based scholarships and grants. The institution's aid structure prioritizes demonstrated financial need, though the absolute net-price figures reflect the reality that smaller private colleges typically have more limited endowment resources than larger research universities. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $30,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $8,945; 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 $38,716, median federal debt of $30,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $345 under standard ten-year repayment. In a downside earnings scenario anchored on Lane's lower-earning program clusters, projected four-year earnings of $38,338 would tighten monthly cash flow substantially — a pattern worth exploring at the program level rather than the institutional average. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Lane College is a strong fit for students seeking a small private college experience in TN with a focus on Business programs — which represent 19% of graduates — and meaningful support for first-generation students. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $38,716, placing Lane College in the 1.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn about $1,435 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 51.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations. The college serves a predominantly Pell-eligible population — 78.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants — with 44.8% identifying as first-generation. This reflects Lane College's commitment to access, though graduates should note the $30,500 median debt at graduation when considering affordability. Fit depends on alignment with the college's small-campus environment and Business focus. Students seeking strong regional connections in TN will find the institution's scale and program mix well-suited to local opportunities.
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 Lane College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
10 graduates
Biology, General
17 graduates
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
12 graduates
Sociology
10 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
20 graduates
Lane College's program mix is anchored in business and professional fields, reflecting the institution's focus on career-ready preparation. Business Administration is the largest program with 20 graduates, followed by Biology, General with 17 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $43,529, Subject-Specific Teacher Education with 12 graduates earning $40,707, Interdisciplinary Studies with 10 graduates, and Criminal Justice with 10 graduates earning $45,008.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 99 students annually, the institution's strongest earnings outcomes cluster in applied professional fields. The highest-earning programs at Lane College reflect the institution's professional orientation.
Criminal Justice leads with median 4-year earnings of $45,008 from 10 graduates, followed by Biology, General with median 4-year earnings of $43,529 from 17 graduates, Subject-Specific Teacher Education with median 4-year earnings of $40,707 from 12 graduates, and Sociology with median 4-year earnings of $34,242 from 10 graduates. These programs represent direct-to-workforce pathways where graduates enter professional roles immediately after completion.
Lane College's program portfolio emphasizes Business alongside Education and Social Sciences, creating a focused credential set aligned with regional labor-market demand. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these professional program families align with employment trends in the Jackson area and beyond.
Data not available for this income tier.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Lane College's published cost of attendance is $23,441. Financial aid reshapes that figure for families across income levels, though the net-price spread at Lane is narrower than at institutions with larger endowments.
Low-income families see a net price of approximately $10,904, reflecting need-based aid that closes part of the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. Azimuth ranks Lane College #463 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 pay more and some less than the figures shown. Lane College participates in federal need-based aid programs (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and institutional aid.
Families apply using the FAFSA to determine eligibility for need-based scholarships and grants. The institution's aid structure prioritizes demonstrated financial need, though the absolute net-price figures reflect the reality that smaller private colleges typically have more limited endowment resources than larger research universities.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $30,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $8,945; 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 $38,716, median federal debt of $30,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $345 under standard ten-year repayment.
In a downside earnings scenario anchored on Lane's lower-earning program clusters, projected four-year earnings of $38,338 would tighten monthly cash flow substantially — a pattern worth exploring at the program level rather than the institutional average. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Lane College earn median 4-year earnings of $38,716, placing Lane College in the 1.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $1,435 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 51.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Lane College #1364 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Program outcomes vary by major.
Biology, General reports 17 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $43,529. Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas reports 12 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $40,707.
Sociology reports 10 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $34,242. Criminal Justice and Corrections reports 10 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $45,008.
