Defiance College is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Defiance, Ohio. It enrolls 499 students (a very small, intimate student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Fair
48/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes7
Value16
Affordability54
Selectivity48
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 47.6%, Defiance College is a selective institution.
Acceptance Rate
47.6%
Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Defiance College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
7.7 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Defiance College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $26,337 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$26,337
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
50%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
72%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$29,320
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,606
Room & Board (off-campus)
$13,106
Books & Supplies
$1,400
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,076
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,776
Total Cost of Attendance
$53,667
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$27,196
$30,001 – $48,000
$26,105
$48,001 – $75,000
$25,884
$75,001 – $110,000
$24,554
Over $110,000
$26,637
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,97110%percentile
$6,50025%percentile
$26,813Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$39,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $10,500
↓ $16,313
No Pell $12,000
↓ $14,813
Dependent students $10,600
↓ $16,213
Independent students $14,500
↓ $12,313
Female students $18,500
↓ $8,313
Male students $8,250
↓ $18,563
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($26,813), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
33% of full-time students who enrolled at Defiance College graduate within six years, and 59% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
33%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
59%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Defiance College earn a median of $49,351 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$49,351
Earning > $25K
78%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$42,300
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$50,200
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$34,500
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$46,400
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$51,000
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $7,900, about 16% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
20.1 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 86% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Defiance College is home to 499 students, an intimate, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 36% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
499
Part-Time
4%
First-Generation
36%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 53.3%266
Black 34.7%173
Hispanic 6.8%34
Other 2.4%12
International 1.4%7
Asian 0.4%2
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Defiance College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: DistantDefiance, Ohio
Housing
Strongly residential545 beds for 499 students
Adult Learners
5%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Defiance College offers
a varied set of programs:
22 distinct programs across
14 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Defiance College is 10:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
10:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$33M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$60,495
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
37 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
2
5%
$74,905
Associate Professors
9
24%
$63,293
Assistant Professors
24
65%
$59,025
Instructors
2
5%
$51,123
Pros & Cons of Defiance College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Defiance College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Best for:
Based on the data, Defiance College is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Defiance College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Defiance College.
Is Defiance College hard to get into?
Defiance College is selective but not extremely competitive. Its acceptance rate is 47.6%. Strong academic credentials and a thoughtful application materially improve your odds.
What is the acceptance rate at Defiance College?
Defiance College has an acceptance rate of 47.6%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Defiance College cost?
The average net price after aid at Defiance College is $26,337 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Defiance College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $49,351 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $26,337 per year. That's roughly 1.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Defiance College known for?
Defiance College is best known for its programs in Kinesiology, Business Administration, Business. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Defiance College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Defiance College are $49,351, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Defiance College accredited?
Yes. Defiance College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Defiance College?
Defiance College enrolls 499 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Defiance College?
Defiance College graduates 33% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Defiance College a public or private college?
Defiance College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Defiance College located?
Defiance College is located in Defiance, Ohio.
What programs does Defiance College offer?
Defiance College offers 22 distinct programs. The most popular include Kinesiology, Business Administration, Business.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Defiance College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Defiance College is 10:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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