Defiance College Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
Defiance College is a private research university in Defiance, Ohio, enrolling about 499 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 47.55% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $49,351 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $29,320
- 2024 Average Net Price: $26,337 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 47.55% Selective
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 499 96.4% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 30.57%
- Carnegie Classification: Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions
- First-Generation Students: 35.5%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 9.8% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 2.0% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 60.0%
- Average ACT Score: 20
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 548
- Applicants (IPEDS): 1,546
- Room & Board: $12,606 annual estimate
Defiance College: what the data shows
Common questions about Defiance College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Defiance College?
Defiance College is located in Defiance, OH (ZIP 43512).
NCES locale classification: Town distant.
Is Defiance College public or private?
Defiance College is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does Defiance College cost?
Published tuition: $29,320.
Average net price after aid: $26,337.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $27,196 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $26,105 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $25,884 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $24,554 |
| $110,001+ | $26,637 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $117,280.
How hard is it to get into Defiance College?
Admission rate: 47.55%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: midpoint ACT 20.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Defiance College?
Total enrollment: 499 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 548 students.
Graduate enrollment: 39 students.
About 96% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Defiance College?
150%-time completion rate: 30.57%.
First-year retention: 55.6%.
What do graduates of Defiance College earn?
Median earnings: $39,303 six years after entry; $49,351 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $26,813.
49.78% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Defiance College known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Business/Commerce, General (17 completions)
- Exercise Science and Kinesiology (14 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (13 completions)
- Criminal Justice/Police Science (11 completions)
- Social Work (11 completions)
- Sport and Fitness Administration/Management (7 completions)
- Special Education and Teaching, General (6 completions)
- General Studies (6 completions)
- Graphic Design (5 completions)
- History, General (5 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Defiance College a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 47.55%; completion rate 30.57%; median earnings $49,351 at 10 years; net price $26,337. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$29,320
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Defiance College was $29,320.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$26,337
2024 Value
In 2024 Defiance College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $26,337.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$105,348 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$26,337 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$117,280 4-Year Tuition
$12,606 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,400 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$43,326 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$173,304 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Defiance College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
49.78% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
72.41% 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 Defiance 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 Defiance 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 | $28,690 | $28,690 | $22,815 |
| 2014 | $29,916 | $29,916 | $24,642 |
| 2015 | $31,082 | $31,082 | $24,014 |
| 2016 | $31,680 | $31,680 | $24,705 |
| 2017 | $32,190 | $32,190 | $24,626 |
| 2018 | $32,700 | $32,700 | $26,086 |
| 2019 | $33,260 | $33,260 | $26,642 |
| 2020 | $33,910 | $33,910 | $25,158 |
| 2021 | $34,804 | $34,804 | $24,268 |
| 2022 | $35,328 | $35,328 | $23,263 |
| 2023 | $38,778 | $38,778 | $23,722 |
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.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
47.55% Acceptance Rate
1,546 Total Applicants
656 Students Admitted
134 First-Time Students Enrolled
20.43% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution is selective, accepting about half of all applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
ACT Average: 20
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Defiance College reported total enrollment of about 499 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 64% male and 36% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (53.3%), Black or African American (34.7%), and Hispanic or Latino (6.8%). About 49.78% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 35.5% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
96.4% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Defiance College in 2024 is 499 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 548 students. Graduate enrollment is about 39 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
55.6%
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.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 53.3%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
29.30% 100% Completion Time
30.57% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 29.30% of students graduating from Defiance College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Business/Commerce, General: 82% male / 18% female
- Exercise Science and Kinesiology: 50% male / 50% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 62% male / 38% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Defiance College.
Return on Investment
$26,813 Median Student Debt
$49,351 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
54.33% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
368.46% Return on Investment
5.4 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Defiance College.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 26 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Business/Commerce, General: 17 completions
2. Exercise Science and Kinesiology: 14 completions
3. Business Administration and Management, General: 13 completions
4. Criminal Justice/Police Science: 11 completions
5. Social Work: 11 completions
6. Sport and Fitness Administration/Management: 7 completions
7. Special Education and Teaching, General: 6 completions
8. General Studies: 6 completions
9. Graphic Design: 5 completions
Most popular programs at Defiance College.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Defiance College graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Defiance College from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 60.0%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $6,646
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $11,859
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Defiance College is a private non-profit institution located in Defiance, OH, classified as Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Business/Commerce, General, Exercise Science and Kinesiology, Business Administration and Management, General. Enrollment is approximately 499 students. Student body composition includes White (53.3%), Black or African American (34.7%), Hispanic or Latino (6.8%). It is selective, with an admission rate of 47.55%. Average ACT scores for admitted students are 20. The 150%-time completion rate is 30.57%. Approximately 49.78% of students receive Pell Grants. About 35.5% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Carnegie Classification: Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions
Location
Defiance, OH 43512
Region: Great Lakes
Insights and Analysis
Graduation Rate Considerations: The 30.57% graduation rate at Defiance College falls below the national average. Prospective students should carefully consider factors such as academic preparation, support services, and career outcomes when evaluating this institution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Defiance College located?
Defiance College is located in Defiance, OH.
What is Defiance College's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Defiance College is 47.5% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 1,546 applicants and 656 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does Defiance College cost?
Reported tuition is $29,320 and average net price is $26,337 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $12,606 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Defiance College?
Defiance College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 548 students, White (53.3%), Black or African American (34.7%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Defiance College?
About 35.5% of students at Defiance College are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Defiance College?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Defiance College reports midpoint ACT about 20.
What do graduates of Defiance College earn?
Median earnings are $39,303 six years after entry and $49,351 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Defiance College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 30.6% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Defiance College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $26,813.
Is Defiance College public or private?
Defiance College is a private nonprofit institution located in Defiance, OH.
Is Defiance College an HBCU?
No. Defiance College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Defiance College a tribal college?
No. Defiance College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
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
- Ohio college costs
- Ohio colleges by ROI
- Great Lakes regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Ohio
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.