Adjunct vs Full-Time Faculty Cost Calculator
Compare cost per credit-hour between adjunct and full-time faculty including benefits.
Cheaper Option
Adjunct
Inputs
$
$
Comparison
Adjunct Cost / Course
$3,675.00
Full-Time Cost / Course
$12,187.50
Adjunct Cost / Credit Hr
$1,225.00
Full-Time Cost / Credit Hr
$4,062.50
Adjunct Annual Cost
$22,050.00
Full-Time Annual Cost
$97,500.00
Savings / Course (FT vs Adj)
$8,512.50
Adjuncts to Replace 1 FT
2
Cost Comparison: Adjunct vs Full-Time ($)
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter the Adjunct Pay / Course (typical range: $2,000–$5,000) and the number of Adjunct Courses / Year they teach.
- Set Adjunct Benefits (%) — adjuncts rarely receive benefits, so 0–5% is common.
- Enter Full-Time Salary and Full-Time Benefits (%) — benefits often add 25–35% on top of salary.
- Set Full-Time Courses / Year (typically 6–8 for a standard teaching load) and Credits per Course.
- Review the Cheaper Option, Cost / Course, and Cost / Credit Hr for both staffing types to inform budget decisions.
- Check Adjuncts to Replace 1 FT to understand how many adjunct contracts cover one full-time position's teaching load.
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