Ursinus College

Ursinus College's published cost of attendance is $76,815, but need-based aid reshapes that figure across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $20,622; middle-income families pay around $28,815; higher-income families pay approximately $33,625.

Azimuth ranks Ursinus College #1308 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.

Ursinus College structures aid as need-based, with families applying through the FAFSA and CSS Profile. The institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs to close the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay.

The difference between published cost and net price reflects the aid commitment across income levels. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $59,162; 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 $65,033, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 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 Ursinus College earn median 4-year earnings of $65,033, placing Ursinus College in the 64.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $9,149 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Ursinus College in the 22.9 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Azimuth ranks Ursinus College #771 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects strength in biological sciences and health-related fields.

Economics is the largest program with 46 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $75,573, performing at 0.9x the national benchmark for the field. The Biology, General program graduates 43 students earning $58,659, while Communication and Media Studies with 39 graduates reaches $61,017.

Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences and Psychology, General round out the top programs, each contributing to a diversified earnings profile across the liberal arts curriculum. The concentration in Biological Sciences — the institution's signature strength — aligns with both strong early-career outcomes and sustained earnings growth through the first decade after graduation.

Ursinus College's program mix is anchored in Biological Sciences — a signature that shapes both the institution's academic identity and graduate outcomes. The largest programs by enrollment are Economics with 46 graduates, Biology, General with 43 graduates, Communication and Media Studies with 39 graduates, and Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences with 30 graduates.

Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 308 students annually, several deliver strong four-year earnings outcomes aligned with the institution's liberal arts research focus. The highest-earning programs at Ursinus College reflect strength in applied and quantitative fields.

Economics leads with median earnings of $75,573 four years after enrollment across 46 graduates, followed by Communication and Media Studies with $61,017 and 39 graduates. Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences delivers $59,415 for 30 graduates, and Biology, General reaches $58,659 across 43 graduates.

These outcomes demonstrate that Ursinus College produces competitive earnings across its most popular fields, with particular strength in programs that combine analytical rigor with direct labor-market application. The institution's program portfolio reflects a liberal arts college positioning where Social Sciences represents 21% of degrees, Arts accounts for 4%, and other STEM fields comprises 4%.

This distribution supports both graduate-school-dependent pathways — particularly within Biological Sciences where many graduates continue to advanced study in medicine, research, or doctoral programs — and direct-to-workforce outcomes in fields like business and applied sciences. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Ursinus College's dominant program families align with national labor-market trends and employer demand.