U.S. Service Schools Colleges: Costs & Outcomes (2026 stats)
TL;DR
EDsmart Data analysis of 2024 College Scorecard data for U.S. Service Schools shows: median public in-state tuition $895 (-83.8% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $90,610 (+66.8% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 87.7% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $8,833 (-34.2% vs U.S.) 15,066 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 7 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 15,066 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $895 (-83.8% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $90,610 (+66.8% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 87.7% (-0.3 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $6,174 (-38.1% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $8,833 (-34.2% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $8,833. Debt rank: #1 nationally of 1 (lower debt = better rank)
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 87.5%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 96.5%
- Student debt rank: #1 nationally of 1 (lower debt = better rank)
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Overview
EDsmart Data aggregates College Scorecard campus data across U.S. Service Schools (Census region)—costs, debt, enrollment, completion, earnings, and top institutions—vs U.S. benchmarks.
U.S. Service Schools vs national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Service Schools (region) | $895 | $6,174 | $8,833 | 87.5% | 15,066 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: U.S. Service Schools vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Service Schools | $90,610 | 87.7% | 96.5% | 1.2% | — | N/A | 0.10 |
| United States | $54,323 | 87.9% | 76.3% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
States in U.S. Service Schools
Member states in this Census region (by enrollment).
| State | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Service Schools | $895 | $6,174 | $8,833 | 87.5% | 15,066 | $90,610 | 87.7% |
| California | $1,350 | $8,343 | $11,400 | 58.5% | 2,158,168 | $65,986 | 90.1% |
| New York | $7,340 | $9,373 | $15,215 | 56.3% | 800,389 | $60,386 | 42.9% |
| Ohio | $7,491 | $12,090 | $14,004 | 46.4% | 429,559 | $52,581 | 91.0% |
| Colorado | $5,140 | $12,045 | $11,338 | 47.9% | 256,174 | $52,231 | 88.1% |
| Maryland | $5,166 | $10,555 | $13,000 | 55.8% | 253,216 | $61,797 | 86.0% |
| Connecticut | $13,928 | $16,798 | $12,541 | 64.9% | 152,356 | $64,209 | 28.2% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 | $54,323 | 87.9% |
Outcomes by sector in U.S. Service Schools
Median campus-level metrics within each ownership type (public, private nonprofit, private for-profit).
| Sector | Campuses | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working share (8 yr) | Retention | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public | 5 | $90,610 | 87.7% | 96.5% | 1.2% | — | N/A |
Top 10 colleges in U.S. Service Schools by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 92.9%, United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
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Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 92.7%, United States Coast Guard Academy
United States Coast Guard Academy
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Rank 3, Graduation Rate, 87.5%, United States Air Force Academy
United States Air Force Academy
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Rank 4, Graduation Rate, 87.1%, United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
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Rank 5, Graduation Rate, 82.4%, United States Merchant Marine Academy
United States Merchant Marine Academy
Top 10 colleges in U.S. Service Schools by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 87.7%, United States Merchant Marine Academy
United States Merchant Marine Academy
Top 10 most selective colleges in U.S. Service Schools (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 9.3%, United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
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Rank 2, Admission Rate, 12.4%, United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
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Rank 3, Admission Rate, 14.1%, United States Air Force Academy
United States Air Force Academy
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Rank 4, Admission Rate, 22.4%, United States Coast Guard Academy
United States Coast Guard Academy
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Rank 5, Admission Rate, 34.2%, United States Merchant Marine Academy
United States Merchant Marine Academy
Top 10 colleges in U.S. Service Schools by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $69,847, United States Merchant Marine Academy
United States Merchant Marine Academy
Top 10 colleges in U.S. Service Schools by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $107,654, United States Merchant Marine Academy
United States Merchant Marine Academy
Top 10 colleges in U.S. Service Schools by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $96,770, United States Merchant Marine Academy
United States Merchant Marine Academy
Top 10 colleges in U.S. Service Schools by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $96,520, United States Merchant Marine Academy
United States Merchant Marine Academy
Top 10 colleges in U.S. Service Schools by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $90,610, United States Merchant Marine Academy
United States Merchant Marine Academy
Top 10 colleges in U.S. Service Schools by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $436,580, United States Merchant Marine Academy
United States Merchant Marine Academy
Top 10 most affordable colleges in U.S. Service Schools (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $6,174, United States Merchant Marine Academy
United States Merchant Marine Academy
Top 10 colleges in U.S. Service Schools by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 98.6%, United States Coast Guard Academy
United States Coast Guard Academy
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Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 97.3%, United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
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Rank 3, First-Year Retention, 96.5%, United States Air Force Academy
United States Air Force Academy
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Rank 4, First-Year Retention, 94.6%, United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
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Rank 5, First-Year Retention, 84.5%, United States Merchant Marine Academy
United States Merchant Marine Academy
In-state tuition: U.S. Service Schools vs benchmarks
Sticker price
U.S. Service Schools median in-state tuition is $895, -83.8% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: U.S. Service Schools vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in U.S. Service Schools is $8,833 (-34.2% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $8,833. Rank: #1 nationally of 1 (lower debt = better rank).
Median earnings (10 years out): U.S. Service Schools vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in U.S. Service Schools center around $90,610 (+66.8% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: U.S. Service Schools vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 87.7% at the median U.S. Service Schools campus (-0.3 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
U.S. Service Schools median public in-state tuition is $895, about -83.8% vs the national median.
Median graduate debt is $8,833 (-34.2% below the U.S. median of $13,432). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Student debt rank: #1 nationally of 1 (lower debt = better rank) (1 = lowest median debt).
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in U.S. Service Schools are $90,610, about +66.8% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,323).
The median campus reports 87.7% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 87.9% (-0.3 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 96.5% vs a U.S. median of 76.3%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 1.2% (U.S. 5.0%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include United States Merchant Marine Academy (87.7%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Within U.S. Service Schools, sector medians diverge: Public median 10-yr earnings $90,610 (5 campuses). Public campuses often dominate enrollment while private nonprofits can show higher earnings medians at selective institutions.
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in U.S. Service Schools is 87.5% (national institution average about 50.3%).
FAQ
How many colleges are in the U.S. Service Schools region?
EDsmart Data analysis: the U.S. Service Schools regional profile aggregates 7 campuses and about 15,066 reported enrollment across member states.
What does college cost in the U.S. Service Schools region?
EDsmart Data analysis: regional median in-state tuition is $895 and median net price is $6,174 (-83.8% vs U.S. tuition median). National medians are $5,512 and $9,967.
What do graduates earn in the U.S. Service Schools region?
EDsmart Data analysis: median 10-year earnings across U.S. Service Schools campuses is $90,610 vs $54,323 nationally.
What is typical student debt in the U.S. Service Schools region?
EDsmart Data analysis: regional median completer debt is $8,833 vs $13,432 nationally.
Which states are in the U.S. Service Schools region?
EDsmart Data analysis: member states in this Census region include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, New York, Ohio.
How many public vs. private colleges are in the U.S. Service Schools region?
EDsmart Data analysis: among reporting campuses: 5 public, 0 private nonprofit, and 0 private for-profit.
What are the top colleges in the U.S. Service Schools region?
EDsmart Data analysis: standouts in regional Top 10 lists include United States Merchant Marine Academy and United States Naval Academy.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in the U.S. Service Schools region?
EDsmart Data analysis: among 7 College Scorecard campuses in the U.S. Service Schools region, none are flagged as HBCUs or tribal colleges in IPEDS, and none meet our 25% Hispanic-enrollment HSI proxy or report a religious affiliation in IPEDS.
Sources & related
- All college profiles
- All regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON