Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Meredith College #1113 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $4,824 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Meredith College in the 37.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Meredith College sits in the 40.9 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Meredith College's composite ranking reflects strong outcomes across multiple dimensions of student success. Graduates achieve meaningful financial returns that place the institution among the top performers in its cohort.
Azimuth ranks Meredith College #1113 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private baccalaureate college in Raleigh, North Carolina, Meredith College enrolls roughly 1,188 undergraduates. Retention is 79.4% and the six-year graduation rate is 70.1%, reflecting solid student persistence and degree completion outcomes. Where Meredith College performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Meredith College #875 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $4,824 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Meredith College in the 37.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This strong earnings performance reflects the college's emphasis on Business and other career-focused fields that connect directly to employer demand. Access and affordability anchor the college's profile. Meredith College enrolls 35.9% Pell-eligible students and 22.0% first-generation college students, positioning it in the 35.1 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. Affordability sits in the 27.5 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting the college's private tuition structure and the aid packages it extends to admitted students. Mobility outcomes place the institution in the 31.7 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, demonstrating that graduates move into sustainable career pathways aligned with their educational preparation.
Meredith College's published cost of attendance is $57,313. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $17,207, families in the lower-middle income band pay around $19,006, middle-income families pay about $18,064, families in the upper-middle income band pay approximately $23,678, and higher-income families pay around $29,117. Azimuth ranks Meredith College #1033 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. Meredith College meets demonstrated financial need through a combination of need-based scholarships, grants, and federal aid programs. Families apply for aid using the FAFSA, and the college works with students to construct aid packages that typically include both gift aid and loan options. The aid structure emphasizes need-based support, with institutional aid playing a meaningful role in closing the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $44,613; 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 $54,650, median federal debt of $25,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $282 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Meredith College is a strong fit for students drawn to business, health, and education fields who want a private women's college experience in Raleigh, NC. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $54,650, placing Meredith College in the 19.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn about $4,824 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 37.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The aid structure is need-based. For admitted Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 35.9% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 22.0% are first-generation — that structure can meaningfully close the gap between the published cost and what families actually pay. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 74.2% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors applied-professional fields over research-oriented ones. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find strong outcomes.
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
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Meredith College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Newman University Similar quality tier (#30527 ranked) | KS | 74% | $55,041 | #30527 | Compare |
Misericordia University Similar quality tier (#30539 ranked) | PA | 71% | $64,313 | #30539 | Compare |
Hilbert College Similar quality tier (#30523 ranked) | NY | 97% | $48,309 | #30523 | Compare |
Tennessee Wesleyan University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#30542 ranked) | TN | 69% | $45,989 | #30542 | Compare |
John Brown University Similar quality tier (#30518 ranked) | AR | 76% | $53,907 | #30518 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Meredith College's published cost of attendance is $57,313. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $17,207, families in the lower-middle income band pay around $19,006, middle-income families pay about $18,064, families in the upper-middle income band pay approximately $23,678, and higher-income families pay around $29,117.
Azimuth ranks Meredith College #1033 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.
Meredith College meets demonstrated financial need through a combination of need-based scholarships, grants, and federal aid programs. Families apply for aid using the FAFSA, and the college works with students to construct aid packages that typically include both gift aid and loan options.
The aid structure emphasizes need-based support, with institutional aid playing a meaningful role in closing the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $44,613; 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 $54,650, median federal debt of $25,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $282 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 Meredith College earn median 4-year earnings of $54,650, placing Meredith College in the 19.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $4,824 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Meredith College in the 37.1 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Meredith College #875 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Meredith College's concentration in business and professional fields.
Biology, General is the largest program with 50 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $60,099, and Azimuth ranks the program 1.1x the national CIP-4 benchmark for the field [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). The Psychology, General program graduates 42 students earning median 4-year earnings of $49,124.
Design and Applied Arts and Business Administration round out the top four, with Communication and Media Studies also contributing to the institution's professional-field focus. This concentration in Business — a field where employers actively recruit and early-career salaries remain competitive — helps explain Meredith College's solid long-term financial outcomes for graduates.
Biology, General
50 graduates
Psychology, General
42 graduates
Marketing
14 graduates
Human Resources Management and Services
8 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
21 graduates
Meredith College's program mix is anchored in business, education, and health-related fields—a portfolio aligned with the institution's identity as a private liberal arts college serving primarily women students. Biology, General is the largest program with 50 graduates, followed by Psychology, General, Design and Applied Arts, Business Administration, and Communication and Media Studies.
Across 28 programs, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, with several delivering strong four-year earnings outcomes. The earnings pattern reflects strength in applied professional fields.
Biology, General leads with median earnings of $60,099 four years after enrollment across 50 graduates, while Psychology, General delivers median earnings of $49,124 among 42 graduates. These outcomes reflect Meredith College's emphasis on career-ready preparation in fields where employers actively recruit from the institution's network.
The program distribution—with Business representing 18% of graduates, Arts at 14%, and Social Sciences at 7%—positions Meredith College as a career-focused institution where most students pursue fields with direct labor-market entry. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these dominant program families align with regional and national workforce demand.
