Nichols College
Nichols College is a private research university in Dudley, Massachusetts, enrolling about 1,163 students. Admission is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of about 80.84% in federal reporting data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $58,063 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $42,705
- 2024 Average Net Price: $33,036 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 80.84% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 1,163 92.2% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 62.61%
- Average SAT Score: 1140
Nichols College: what the data shows
Common questions about Nichols College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Nichols College?
Nichols College is located in Dudley, MA (ZIP 01571-5000).
NCES locale classification: Rural fringe.
Is Nichols College public or private?
Nichols College is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does Nichols College cost?
Published tuition: $42,705.
Average net price after aid: $33,036.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $22,054 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $24,749 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $31,978 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $33,851 |
| $110,001+ | $35,731 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $170,820.
How hard is it to get into Nichols College?
Admission rate: 80.84%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1140 and midpoint ACT 23.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Nichols College?
Total enrollment: 1,163 students.
About 92% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Nichols College?
150%-time completion rate: 62.61%.
First-year retention: 72.5%.
What do graduates of Nichols College earn?
Median earnings: $47,830 six years after entry; $58,063 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $27,000.
25.52% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Nichols College known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Other/Unknown Programs (369 completions)
- CIP 520201 (89 completions)
- Business Administration, Management, & Operations (53 completions)
- CIP 520301 (36 completions)
- CIP 310504 (27 completions)
- CIP 430304 (27 completions)
- Marketing/Marketing Management, General (23 completions)
- General Psychology (22 completions)
- Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Administration (16 completions)
- Finance, General (16 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Nichols College a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 80.84%; completion rate 62.61%; median earnings $58,063 at 10 years; net price $33,036. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Costs
Tuition Costs
$42,705
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Nichols College was $42,705.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$33,036
2024 Value
In 2024 Nichols College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $33,036.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$132,144 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$33,036 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$170,820 4-Year Tuition
Costs include tuition and fees. Room & board, books, and other expenses are additional.
4-year total cost breakdown for Nichols College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
25.52% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
68.66% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Nichols College was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Nichols College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $32,370 | $32,370 | $26,673 |
| 2014 | $32,370 | $32,370 | $26,494 |
| 2015 | $33,300 | $33,300 | $27,124 |
| 2016 | $33,400 | $33,400 | $28,294 |
| 2017 | $34,000 | $34,000 | $29,398 |
| 2018 | $35,000 | $35,000 | $28,980 |
| 2019 | $35,940 | $35,940 | $27,721 |
| 2020 | $36,540 | $36,540 | $29,951 |
| 2021 | $37,300 | $37,300 | $26,832 |
| 2022 | $38,800 | $38,800 | $29,795 |
| 2023 | $40,375 | $40,375 | $31,065 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
80.84% Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1140
ACT Average: 23
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.0 - 3.4
Estimated Median GPA: 3.20
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
92.2% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Nichols College in 2024 is 1,163 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
72.5%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
60.91% 100% Completion Time
62.61% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 60.91% of students graduating from Nichols College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Nichols College.
Return on Investment
$27,000 Median Student Debt
$58,063 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
46.50% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
339.39% Return on Investment
4.7 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Nichols College.
Top Programs by Completions
10 Programs Reporting Data
CIP 52.0201: 89 completions
Business Administration, Management, & Operations: 53 completions
CIP 52.0301: 36 completions
CIP 31.0504: 27 completions
CIP 43.0304: 27 completions
Marketing/Marketing Management, General: 23 completions
General Psychology: 22 completions
Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Administration: 16 completions
Finance, General: 16 completions
Other/Unknown Programs: 369 completions
Most popular programs at Nichols College.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Nichols College graduates.
About
Nichols College is a private non-profit institution located in Dudley, MA, offering 21 distinct degree programs across various academic disciplines. The institution enrolls approximately 1,163 students. The admission rate is 80.84%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1140. The institution maintains a 62.61% graduation rate. Approximately 25.52% of students receive Pell Grants.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Location
Dudley, MA 01571-5000
Region: New England
Insights and Analysis
Nichols College provides educational opportunities for students seeking higher education. Prospective students should carefully evaluate all factors including costs, outcomes, and program offerings when making their enrollment decisions.
FAQ
How much does Nichols College cost?
Reported in-state tuition is $42,705 and average net price is $33,036 in the latest College Scorecard data.
How hard is it to get into Nichols College?
The admission rate is 80.8% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data.
What test scores do students need for Nichols College?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Nichols College reports midpoint SAT about 1140 and midpoint ACT about 23.
What do graduates of Nichols College earn?
Median earnings are $47,830 six years after entry and $58,063 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Nichols College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 62.6% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Nichols College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $27,000.
How big is Nichols College?
Total enrollment is about 1,163 students in the latest reporting year.
Is Nichols College public or private?
Nichols College is a private nonprofit institution located in Dudley, MA.
Is Nichols College an HBCU?
No. Nichols College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Nichols College a tribal college?
No. Nichols College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Nichols College a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Nichols College does not meet that proxy (reported share 10.4%).
Is Nichols College religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for Nichols College in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.