Students at Reinhardt University achieve modest earnings gains compared with similar students elsewhere, though overall financial outcomes remain challenging.
The university provides access to students who need educational opportunity, but families should carefully consider the substantial costs relative to typical post-graduation earnings.
Reinhardt University is a small private nonprofit institution in Waleska, Georgia, serving about 1,200 students in a close-knit campus environment. While the university provides access to nearly 40% of students who receive Pell Grants and over 36% who are first-generation college students, the financial outcomes present challenges that prospective families should carefully consider. Graduates earn a median of $46,541 ten years after enrollment, placing the institution in the bottom quartile nationally for long-term earnings among similar colleges.
The university falls into the "Under-Resourced Institutions" category for economic mobility, meaning it serves students who need support but struggles to deliver the strong financial outcomes that characterize top-performing institutions. Completion rates are concerning, with only about 36% of students graduating within six years, and the gap is particularly pronounced for Pell recipients, where completion drops significantly. Net prices are high across all income levels, with low-income families paying around $24,424 annually and middle-income families facing costs near $27,952.
For students who thrive in small classroom settings and value personal relationships with faculty, Reinhardt offers an intimate educational experience. However, families should weigh these benefits against the financial realities, including modest post-graduation earnings and substantial debt levels that may challenge long-term financial stability.
Reinhardt University's program portfolio is concentrated in a few key areas, with Business Administration and Management serving as the primary academic and economic engine. This program graduates 66 students annually with median earnings around $42,682, making it both the largest and highest-return program at the institution. The substantial enrollment in business reflects student demand for practical, career-focused education, though the earnings outcomes remain modest compared to business programs at other institutions.
Corrections Administration represents a smaller but notable program, graduating 22 students with slightly higher median earnings of $47,260. This specialized field offers more focused career preparation and appears to provide somewhat better financial outcomes, though the limited scale means fewer students benefit from this pathway. The concentration in these two primary programs reflects Reinhardt's focus on professional preparation rather than liberal arts breadth.
The limited program diversity means students have fewer options for finding high-earning career paths, and the modest earnings across available programs highlight the institution's challenges in connecting students to lucrative post-graduation opportunities. Students should carefully research career prospects in their chosen field and consider whether Reinhardt's specific program offerings align with their long-term financial and professional goals.
Graduates of Reinhardt University face financial challenges that require careful consideration. Ten years after enrollment, they earn a median of $46,541, which places the institution in the bottom 25% nationally for long-term earnings. While graduates do earn slightly more than statistical expectations—about $1,971 above what similar students achieve elsewhere—this modest advantage doesn't offset the overall low earnings trajectory that characterizes the institution.
The university's strongest program outcomes come from Business Administration and Management, which graduates 66 students annually with median earnings around $42,682. Corrections Administration, though smaller with 22 graduates, shows somewhat stronger earnings at $47,260. However, these figures represent early-career earnings that may not fully capture long-term earning potential, and the limited program diversity means fewer pathways to higher-income careers.
Only 30 graduates across all programs earn more than $75,000 annually, highlighting the challenge many face in reaching higher income levels. The combination of modest earnings and substantial debt loads creates a difficult financial equation for many graduates, making careful program selection and realistic financial planning essential for prospective students.
Affordability represents a significant challenge at Reinhardt University, with high net prices across all income levels creating substantial financial barriers for most families. Low-income students pay approximately $24,424 annually, middle-income families face costs around $27,952, and high-income families pay about $30,105—all figures that place considerable strain on family budgets and rank among the higher costs nationally for institutions of this type.
The debt picture compounds these affordability concerns. Typical graduates leave with about $23,900 in federal student loan debt, while families often supplement with Parent PLUS loans averaging $19,489. Combined, these debt levels create monthly payment obligations that can be challenging given the institution's modest post-graduation earnings. The university does maintain a 0% federal loan default rate, suggesting that graduates generally manage to avoid the most severe repayment difficulties, though this may reflect forbearance or income-driven repayment rather than comfortable debt service.
Families considering Reinhardt should carefully evaluate their ability to manage these costs, particularly given the earnings outcomes graduates typically achieve. The high net prices relative to post-graduation earning power create a challenging return-on-investment equation that requires realistic financial planning and potentially significant family financial support beyond what federal aid provides.
Reinhardt University Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
