Franklin W Olin College of Engineering
Needham, MA 02492-1200
About Franklin W Olin College of Engineering
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering is a private university in Needham, Massachusetts, enrolling about 377 students. Admission is selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 25.20% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $129,455 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Franklin W Olin College of Engineering charges about 2.3× the national private non-profit median tuition ($66,398).
- Versus the Massachusetts median, sticker tuition is about 1.9×.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 96.39%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $129,455.
Research findings
Finding
Average net price at Franklin W Olin College of Engineering is about 62% below published tuition.
Published tuition is $66,398; average net price is $25,171 in the latest Scorecard extract.
Interpretation: Institutional aid and grants compress sticker price into a substantially lower typical undergraduate cost signal.
Limitation: Average net price masks variation by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the campus average.
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Franklin W Olin College of Engineering is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 1186% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin W Olin College of Engineering | $66,398 | $25,171 | 1 |
| Private Non-profit (national median) | $29,325 | — | 1,444 |
| Massachusetts (state median) | $34,256 | $12,244 | 93 |
| Rural (locale median) | $14,160 | $18,700 | 1,649 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
Average net price is 62% below published tuition at Franklin W Olin College of Engineering
Key findings
- Franklin W Olin College of Engineering's average net price ($25,171) is 62% below published tuition ($66,398).
- Franklin W Olin College of Engineering charges about 2.3× the national private non-profit median tuition ($66,398).
- Versus the Massachusetts median, sticker tuition is about 1.9×.
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $66,398
Finding Franklin W Olin College of Engineering charges about 2.3× the national private non-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $66,398. That is about 2.3× the national private non-profit median ($29,325). Versus the Massachusetts median ($34,256), sticker tuition is about 1.9×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 5.6×.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to private non-profit and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Franklin W Olin College of Engineering versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Franklin W Olin College of Engineering versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Franklin W Olin College of Engineering is $25,171.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $25,171 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $12,927 above the Massachusetts median net price. Versus rural campuses, net price runs $6,471 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway Franklin W Olin College of Engineering’s published tuition substantially overstates typical undergraduate cost: average net price is about 62% lower after grants and scholarships.
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Franklin W Olin College of Engineering—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
Completion, earnings, and net price together describe a campus where sticker price overstates typical undergraduate cost while outcomes remain at the high end of Scorecard distributions.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$66,398
Avg. net price
$25,171
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $30,001–$48,000 | $3,100 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $9,528 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $12,271 |
| $110,001+ | $27,096 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $265,592. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Franklin W Olin College of Engineering is known for
Top program completions
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Highly selective — fewer than 3 in 10 applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 49% of admitted students enrolled.
- Average SAT: 1520
- Midpoint ACT: 35
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Franklin W Olin College of Engineering a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering is a good school for those looking for strong completion and solid mid-career earnings—especially where average net price sits well below published tuition (about 62% lower in this extract).
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Franklin W Olin College of Engineering.
Campus
Location
Needham, MA
City / state
- ZIP
- 02492-1200
- NCES locale
- Rural fringe
Compared with Rural campuses nationally, net price is 35% above the median for Rural campuses ($18,700 median).
Control
Institution type
Private Non-profit
Control
- Region
- New England
- Carnegie
- Special Focus Four-Year: Other Special Focus Institutions
Size
Enrollment
377
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 433
- Full-time share
- 100%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$19,500
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 12.13%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Franklin W Olin College of Engineering.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Franklin W Olin College of Engineering 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 Franklin W Olin College of Engineering 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 | $45,156 | $45,156 | $19,971 |
| 2014 | $46,681 | $46,681 | $22,031 |
| 2015 | $48,181 | $48,181 | $22,617 |
| 2016 | $49,986 | $49,986 | $18,323 |
| 2017 | $51,936 | $51,936 | $24,903 |
| 2018 | $53,736 | $53,736 | $21,370 |
| 2019 | $55,500 | $55,500 | $20,540 |
| 2020 | $57,356 | $57,356 | $15,647 |
| 2021 | $58,998 | $58,998 | $21,474 |
| 2022 | $60,766 | $60,766 | $25,924 |
| 2023 | $64,458 | $64,458 | $20,575 |
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.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution is highly selective, accepting fewer than 3 in 10 applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Average 1520 (middle 50% not reported)
Midpoint 35 (middle 50% not reported)
Scores for enrollees who submitted tests (College Scorecard).
Academic Requirements
Estimated from admission selectivity and test scores. Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
Estimated range · median 4.00
Estimated GPA band from selectivity and test scores — not an official requirement.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering reported total enrollment of about 377 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 53% male and 47% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (41.6%), Asian (23.6%), and Hispanic or Latino (12.5%). About 12.13% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
99.7% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Franklin W Olin College of Engineering in 2024 is 377 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 433 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
98.0%
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
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
63.86% 100% Completion Time
96.39% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 63.86% of students graduating from Franklin W Olin College of Engineering completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Engineering, General: 56% male / 44% female
- Mechanical Engineering: 55% male / 45% female
- Electrical and Electronics Engineering: 52% male / 48% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering graduates earn a median of $129,455 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Franklin W Olin College of Engineering.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $129,455. Median federal loan debt: $19,500. Average net price used in cost models: $25,171.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Franklin W Olin College of Engineering graduates report median earnings of $129,455 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Franklin W Olin College of Engineering.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 3 programs by IPEDS completions (4 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Franklin W Olin College of Engineering.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Franklin W Olin College of Engineering graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Franklin W Olin College of Engineering—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$409.8M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Massachusetts median 6.6× the median ($62.1M)
- New England median 9.5× the median ($42.9M)
- U.S. median 16× the median ($26.4M)
- Massachusetts median 36× the median ($30,011)
- New England median 46× the median ($23,268)
- U.S. median 89× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 91.8%
- Massachusetts median 40.7 pp above median (51.1%)
- New England median 38.5 pp above median (53.3%)
- U.S. median 33.9 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $15,357
- Massachusetts median 1.6× the median ($9,649)
- New England median 1.7× the median ($9,262)
- U.S. median 2.0× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $33,960
- Massachusetts median 3.0× the median ($11,192)
- New England median 3.3× the median ($10,182)
- U.S. median 4.7× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering at a glance
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering is a private non-profit institution in Needham, MA, classified as Special Focus Four-Year: Other Special Focus Institutions.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Engineering, GeneralMechanical EngineeringElectrical and Electronics Engineering
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian41.6%Asian23.6%Hispanic or Latino12.5%
Schools near Franklin W Olin College of Engineering
Other campuses in Needham, MA when available, plus nearby institutions in Massachusetts.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade A) within Massachusetts, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Franklin W Olin College of Engineering located?
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering is located in Needham, MA.
What is Franklin W Olin College of Engineering's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Franklin W Olin College of Engineering is 25.2% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 928 applicants and 201 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Franklin W Olin College of Engineering's tuition?
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $66,398 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $25,171 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Franklin W Olin College of Engineering cost?
Reported tuition is $66,398 and average net price is $25,171 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $20,810 annually.
Why is Franklin W Olin College of Engineering's net price so much lower than tuition?
At Franklin W Olin College of Engineering, published tuition is $66,398 while average net price is $25,171—about 62% lower. Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid (College Scorecard). Institutional aid therefore compresses sticker price into a lower typical undergraduate cost signal. The campus average still masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average. EDsmart Data treats the sticker–net gap as an analytical finding, not advice about individual aid offers.
What explains Franklin W Olin College of Engineering's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($25,171), completion (96.4% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($129,455). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Franklin W Olin College of Engineering?
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering reports undergraduate enrollment of about 433 students, White (41.6%), Asian (23.6%) in federal College Scorecard data.
What test scores do students need for Franklin W Olin College of Engineering?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Franklin W Olin College of Engineering reports midpoint SAT about 1520 and midpoint ACT about 35.
What do graduates of Franklin W Olin College of Engineering earn?
Median earnings are $105,483 six years after entry and $129,455 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Franklin W Olin College of Engineering?
The 150%-time completion rate is 96.4% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Franklin W Olin College of Engineering students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $19,500.
Is Franklin W Olin College of Engineering public or private?
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering is a private nonprofit institution located in Needham, MA.
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 Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.