Allegheny Wesleyan College
Salem, Ohio · Private Nonprofit
ROI Score: 29/100 · Poor Value
Allegheny Wesleyan College scores 29 (Poor Value) on the CampusROI scale, with two of five sub-scores imputed due to missing Scorecard data (dataCompleteness 0.8). The institution is a very small Wesleyan Methodist Bible college enrolling 46 students in Salem, Ohio. The structural problems are severe: a 65.8-year payback period (sub-score 11 -- near the floor of the national distribution), a 46.2% completion rate, and an earnings premium of only 11.5% above the high school comparison benchmark. Scorecard does not report 6-year earnings; 10-year earnings are $37,453. Debt data is entirely absent from Scorecard -- median debt, monthly payment, debt-to-earnings ratio, and all repayment rate figures are null. The debtToEarnings and repaymentRate sub-scores are therefore imputed at 50 (neutral), not based on actual borrower data. Tuition is $6,800 -- very low relative to most private institutions -- and net price averages $5,355. The extremely low faculty salary average ($2,210 per month) reflects the institution's small scale and likely volunteer or part-time faculty model. The 50% Pell grant rate indicates half of enrolled students come from low-income backgrounds. No program-level Scorecard data is available. Prospective students should understand that AWC is a religious vocation-focused institution; its mission and outcomes are not directly comparable to traditional degree-granting colleges, and Scorecard metrics are a limited lens for this institution type.
The data raises concerns about Allegheny Wesleyan College
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score29/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Payback period>50 years - Graduates earn at or near the level of high school completers — the cost may not recoup within a working career.
Allegheny Wesleyan College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $6,800/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $6,800/yr |
| Average net price | $5,355/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $21,420 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $37,453 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | N/A |
| Median debt at graduation | N/A |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $0 |
| Estimated payback period | >50 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 46.2% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 46 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Allegheny Wesleyan College is $6,800/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $5,355/year, or roughly $21,420 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $4,614/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay N/A/year. The school provides substantial aid to low-income students, making it significantly more affordable than the sticker price suggests.
The median graduate leaves with N/A in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $0 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $37,453 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is N/A - (insufficient data to assess).
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $4,614 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $5,517 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $6,767 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | N/A |
| $110,001+ | N/A |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $4,614 per year at AWC -- among the lowest net prices in the Scorecard database. The very low cost reflects the institution's minimal operating scale rather than a robust aid program. At $4,614 annually, the absolute dollar outlay is small, but the 65.8-year payback period and missing debt data make it impossible to assess the financial return. Scorecard does not report repayment rates, so the borrower experience for low-income graduates is unknown.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 30001-48000 bracket pays $5,517 and the 48001-75000 bracket pays $6,767. Even at these modest prices, the 65.8-year payback period and a 10-year earnings figure of $37,453 indicate that the credential does not generate a meaningful earnings premium over time. Scorecard does not report net price data for the 75001-110000 or 110001-plus income brackets, limiting the analysis for middle-to-upper income families.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Scorecard does not report net price figures for the 75001-110000 or 110001-plus income brackets at Allegheny Wesleyan College. Given the institutional profile and very low tuition of $6,800, families in higher income brackets likely pay closer to full price with limited aid. The absence of data, combined with the institution's micro-scale and religious focus, makes standard ROI analysis for high-income families largely inapplicable.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | N/A | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | N/A | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | N/A | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | N/A | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Enrollment | 46 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 50.0% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $2,210 |
Scorecard does not report an admission rate for Allegheny Wesleyan College, nor standardized test score ranges. With 46 enrolled students, the institution is micro-scale and likely admits most applicants who meet its religious community standards. The 46.2% completion rate -- meaning roughly half of enrolled students do not graduate -- is a meaningful risk factor even at this scale. Students should inquire directly about program structure, graduation requirements, and credential recognition before enrolling.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Scorecard peers include American Baptist College and Carolina Christian College -- other small, religiously focused institutions where ministerial mission rather than labor market outcomes is the primary institutional purpose. Allegheny Wesleyan College's 29 ROI score is near the bottom of the private nonprofit distribution, but this metric is designed for traditional degree-granting institutions and does not capture the vocational formation mission that defines AWC's enrollment rationale. The comparison is most useful as a caution: students who are primarily motivated by financial return should not choose AWC based on the Scorecard data presented here.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allegheny Wesleyan College (this school) | 29 | $5,355 | $37,453 |
| Ashland University | 47 | $21,988 | $52,928 |
| American Baptist College | 32 | $9,216 | $41,216 |
| Pacific Islands University | 28 | $9,334 | $20,902 |
| Carolina Christian College | 23 | $22,366 | $40,672 |
| Art Academy of Cincinnati | 9 | $34,253 | $34,368 |
Who Thrives Here
Allegheny Wesleyan College enrolls 46 students in Salem, Ohio and operates as a Wesleyan Methodist Bible college. Scorecard does not report admission rate, standardized test ranges, or 6-year earnings for this institution. Pell grant rate of 50% indicates half of students come from low-income families. AWC is a religious formation institution; its primary mission is ministerial and theological training for Wesleyan Methodist communities. Students choosing AWC are typically doing so for religious rather than financial reasons. The standard CampusROI analysis provides limited guidance for an institution of this type and size.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Allegheny Wesleyan College. With a net cost of $5,355 per year and median graduate earnings of only $37,453 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds >50 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 46.2% graduation rate and a long payback period.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.