Dorsey College is a private for-profit institution offering associate degrees based in Madison Heights, Michigan. It enrolls 643 students (a small, tight-knit 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 (2-Year). 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
51/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes36
Value4
Affordability51
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Dorsey College generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Dorsey 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 $28,525 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private for-profit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$28,525
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
74%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
79%
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
$16,990
Room & Board (off-campus)
$8,604
Books & Supplies
$0
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$13,891
Total Cost of Attendance
$34,227
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
$28,326
$30,001 – $48,000
$29,284
$48,001 – $75,000
$23,521
$75,001 – $110,000
$30,398
Over $110,000
$33,377
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.
$2,62610%percentile
$4,43625%percentile
$13,000Medianpercentile
$13,00075%percentile
$13,96990%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 $9,500
↓ $3,500
No Pell $9,500
↓ $3,500
Dependent students $7,667
↓ $5,333
Independent students $10,458
↓ $2,542
Female students $9,500
↓ $3,500
Male students $7,500
↓ $5,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,172, less than completers ($13,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
51% of full-time students who enrolled at Dorsey College graduate within six years, and 51% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
51%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
51%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Dorsey College earn a median of $29,392 ten years after first enrolling. That's below the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$29,392
Earning > $25K
49%
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
$24,200
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$30,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$23,000
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$28,300
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$28,300
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $6,100, about 20% 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 ↑
11.0 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Concerning. Only 32% of graduates are actively reducing principal even seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Dorsey College is home to 643 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 57% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
643
Part-Time
0%
First-Generation
57%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Black 63.6%409
White 22.9%147
Other 5.6%36
Asian 1.9%12
Hispanic 0.8%5
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Dorsey College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbMadison Heights, Michigan
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
63%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Quarterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Dorsey College offers
a focused set of programs:
9 distinct programs across
3 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 Dorsey College is 12:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Avg Faculty Salary
$45,352
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
24 instructional faculty across 1 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
Instructors
24
100%
$45,352
Pros & Cons of Dorsey College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Dorsey College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Open admissions
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Above-average net price
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Below-average completion rate
First-year retention is below typical
Below-average post-graduation earnings
Best for:
Based on the data, Dorsey College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Dorsey College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Dorsey College.
Is Dorsey College hard to get into?
Dorsey College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Dorsey College?
Dorsey College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Dorsey College cost?
The average net price after aid at Dorsey College is $28,525 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Dorsey College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $29,392 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $28,525 per year. That's roughly 1.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Dorsey College known for?
Dorsey College is best known for its programs in Practical Nursing, Cosmetology, Medical Assisting. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Dorsey College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Dorsey College are $29,392, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Dorsey College accredited?
Yes. Dorsey College is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education.
How many students attend Dorsey College?
Dorsey College enrolls 643 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Dorsey College?
Dorsey College graduates 51% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Dorsey College a public or private college?
Dorsey College is a Private For-Profit institution.
Where is Dorsey College located?
Dorsey College is located in Madison Heights, Michigan.
What programs does Dorsey College offer?
Dorsey College offers 9 distinct programs. The most popular include Practical Nursing, Cosmetology, Medical Assisting.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Dorsey College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Dorsey College is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Higher education data
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Graduation rate
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Completion
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