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25 Colleges with the Worst Return on Investment (Photos)

College Rankings 2014

Graduates from these relatively costly schools might leave with diplomas, but the low-paying jobs they take after graduation won’t help much with those student loans.

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The Daily Beast
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#25

Point Loma Nazarene University

San Diego, California


6-Year Graduation Rate: 75%

Average Net Price: $27,297

Average Starting Salary: $42,100

Average Mid-Career Salary: $80,500

ZUMA Press, Inc. / Alamy
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#23

Baylor University

Waco, Texas


6-Year Graduation Rate: 75%

Average Net Price: $28,055

Average Starting Salary: $46,300

Average Mid-Career Salary: $84,000

Robert Rogers / Baylor University
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#22

University of Puget Sound

Tacoma, Washington


6-Year Graduation Rate: 77%

Average Net Price: $33,439

Average Starting Salary: $45,100

Average Mid-Career Salary: $85,000

Kevin Casey/Getty
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#21

University of Denver

Denver, Colorado


6-Year Graduation Rate: 76%

Average Net Price: $32,188

Average Starting Salary: $48,700

Average Mid-Career Salary: $83,000

Wayne Armstrong
galleries/2014/11/06/25-colleges-with-the-worst-return-on-investment-photos/happiest-colleges---mount-holyoke_cmvwah

#20

Mount Holyoke College

South Hadley, Massachusetts


6-Year Graduation Rate: 81%

Average Net Price: $25,659

Average Starting Salary: $41,300

Average Mid-Career Salary: $70,300

NANCY PALMIERI
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#19

Knox College

Galesburg, Illinois


6-Year Graduation Rate: 81%

Average Net Price: $22,540

Average Starting Salary: $36,500

Average Mid-Career Salary: $80,500

Mary Knox Merrill/Getty
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#18

Taylor University

Upland, Indiana


6-Year Graduation Rate: 77%

Average Net Price: $25,183

Average Starting Salary: $39,800

Average Mid-Career Salary: $77,600

Wikimedia Commons
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#17

Augustana College

Rock Island, Illinois


6-Year Graduation Rate: 78%

Average Net Price: $23,548

Average Starting Salary: $40,600

Average Mid-Career Salary: $69,900

ZUMA Press, Inc / Alamy
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#16

Wheaton College

Norton, Massachusetts


6-Year Graduation Rate: 82%

Average Net Price: $28,015

Average Starting Salary: $37,300

Average Mid-Career Salary: $82,500

via Instagram
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#15

Luther College

Decorah, Iowa


6-Year Graduation Rate: 77%

Average Net Price: $24,566

Average Starting Salary: $45,700

Average Mid-Career Salary: $63,100

phthalogreen/Wikimedia Commons
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#14

Beloit College

Beloit, Wisconsin


6-Year Graduation Rate: 78%

Average Net Price: $24,138

Average Starting Salary: $39,200

Average Mid-Career Salary: $74,100

Bob Knopes
galleries/2014/11/06/25-colleges-with-the-worst-return-on-investment-photos/happiest-colleges---bryn-mawr-college_zxkios

#13

Bryn Mawr College

Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania


6-Year Graduation Rate: 82%

Average Net Price: $30,940

Average Starting Salary: $44,600

Average Mid-Career Salary: $69,800

AP Photo
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#12

Lewis & Clark College

Portland, Oregon


6-Year Graduation Rate: 76%

Average Net Price: $26,296

Average Starting Salary: $38,700

Average Mid-Career Salary: $77,000

Steve Hambuchen / Lewis & Clark College
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#11

Whitworth University

Spokane, Washington


6-Year Graduation Rate: 76%

Average Net Price: $25,600

Average Starting Salary: $40,800

Average Mid-Career Salary: $74,500

Gregory Olsen/Getty
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#10

Calvin College

Grand Rapids, Michigan


6-Year Graduation Rate: 77%

Average Net Price: $24,745

Average Starting Salary: $42,700

Average Mid-Career Salary: $74,500

ejd24/Wikimedia Commons
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#9

Elon University

Elon, North Carolina


6-Year Graduation Rate: 83%

Average Net Price: $29,749

Average Starting Salary: $43,500

Average Mid-Career Salary: $72,100

Sara D. Davis/AP
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#8

Ithaca College

Ithaca, New York


6-Year Graduation Rate: 77%

Average Net Price: $32,429

Average Starting Salary: $44,000

Average Mid-Career Salary: $76,300

arthurohm / Flickr
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#7

The College of Wooster

Wooster, Ohio


6-Year Graduation Rate: 76%

Average Net Price: $24,589

Average Starting Salary: $38,800

Average Mid-Career Salary: $70,400

PRNewsFoto/The College of Wooster via AP
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#6

Seattle University

Seattle, Washington


6-Year Graduation Rate: 78%

Average Net Price: $31,961

Average Starting Salary: $46,100

Average Mid-Career Salary: $77,900

Mary Knox Merrill/Getty
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#5

Oberlin College

Oberlin, Ohio


6-Year Graduation Rate: 85%

Average Net Price: $35,790

Average Starting Salary: $40,200

Average Mid-Career Salary: $92,700

Scott Shaw/The Plain Dealer /Landov
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#4

Sarah Lawrence College

Bronxville, New York


6-Year Graduation Rate: 76%

Average Net Price: $29,666

Average Starting Salary: $39,000

Average Mid-Career Salary: $75,000

Andrew Lichtenstein
galleries/2014/11/06/25-colleges-with-the-worst-return-on-investment-photos/141105-AlleghenyCollege_ngiwgy

#3

Allegheny College

Meadville, Pennsylvania


6-Year Graduation Rate: 78%

Average Net Price: $25,208

Average Starting Salary: $36,200

Average Mid-Career Salary: $73,100

Wikimedia Commons
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#2

Marist College

Poughkeepsie, New York


6-Year Graduation Rate: 80%

Average Net Price: $33,426

Average Starting Salary: $43,400

Average Mid-Career Salary: $75,100

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#1

Kalamazoo College

Kalamazoo, Michigan


6-Year Graduation Rate: 81%

Average Net Price: $26,769

Average Starting Salary: $36,300

Average Mid-Career Salary: $75,000

Getty

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