Andrews University
Berrien Springs, Michigan · Private Nonprofit · 81.8% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 56/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Andrews University is a Seventh-day Adventist institution in Berrien Springs, MI, enrolling 1,224 students. Its ROI score of 56 (Below Average Value) reflects a troubling combination: average six-year earnings of just $35,200, a 10.5-year payback period, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.74. Only 71% of students graduate, which means roughly 3 in 10 carry debt without the credential. The repayment rate is particularly concerning - just 60% of borrowers are making progress reducing their principal after seven years. The school's program mix is heavily health-focused: Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (21 graduates, 4-year earnings $73k), Registered Nursing (15 graduates, 1-year earnings $70k), and Communication Disorders Sciences (6 graduates). These programs outperform the institution's average, but they represent a small share of total enrollment. Students outside these high-demand health fields face a difficult earnings picture relative to cost.
Andrews University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $35,056/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $35,056/yr |
| Average net price | $12,547/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $50,188 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $53,187 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $35,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $276 |
| Estimated payback period | 10.5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 71.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,224 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $35,056/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $12,547/year, or roughly $50,188 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $13,406/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $17,340/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $26,000, which works out to about $276 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($35,200) and comes to 0.74, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
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 | $13,406 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $10,155 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $8,024 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $13,426 |
| $110,001+ | $17,340 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $13,406 per year at Andrews - about $53,600 over four years. Given average six-year earnings of $35,200, the payback math is uncomfortable: graduates would spend more than 10 years recovering education costs from earnings. The below-60% repayment rate among borrowers signals that many alumni struggle with their loans.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 30-48k bracket pays $10,155 - actually cheaper than the lowest-income bracket, which is unusual and likely reflects aid program structures. The 48-75k bracket drops further to $8,024 before jumping to $13,426 for 75-110k households. The non-monotonic pricing suggests aid rules don't scale smoothly. Middle-income families in the $48-75k range actually pay the lowest net price of the income brackets discussed above, but the underlying earnings problem remains regardless of net price.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning over $110k pay $17,340 per year. The debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.74, regardless of family income.
Earnings by Major
Top 4 most popular majors at Andrews University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $73,194 | B+ |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology | $62,157 | - |
| Registered Nursing | $69,542 | C+ |
| Communication Disorders Sciences | $58,526 | B |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
This is Andrews' strongest ROI program by the data. Four-year earnings of $73,194 with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.30 (B+ grade) and 21 graduates put it ahead of most programs here. Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and related rehabilitation fields have strong labor demand nationally, particularly in the Great Lakes region. Berrien County's aging demographics and the school's clinical placement network give graduates access to entry-level positions. For students planning graduate-level PT or OT work, this undergraduate credential provides a pathway - though the overall cost of attendance should be weighed against the debt load for any subsequent graduate study.
Registered Nursing
Nursing grads at Andrews earn $69,542 at one year - a strong starting salary for the southwest Michigan market. The 15 annual graduates reflect a small cohort. Michigan healthcare employers actively recruit RNs, and the Adventist hospital system creates an immediate network for Andrews nursing graduates seeking placement in faith-aligned healthcare settings. Students who plan to stay in the Adventist health system may find this pathway more valuable than the raw numbers suggest.
Communication Disorders Sciences
Communication Disorders (speech-language pathology track) shows four-year earnings of $58,526 with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43 (B grade). The six graduates represent a small cohort. Most students in this field go on to graduate programs to become licensed SLPs, so the undergraduate earnings figure understates long-term potential. The SLP field has strong demand in schools, hospitals, and private practice. Andrews' program provides the prerequisite coursework for ASHA-accredited graduate programs. Students should note that total educational debt across undergrad and graduate programs can become significant.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 53.1% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 60.4% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 54.5% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 64.8% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Andrews University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 81.8% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 470-630 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 520-660 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 20-26 |
| Enrollment | 1,224 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 24.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,256 |
Andrews admits 82% of applicants. The SAT middle 50% spans 470-660 reading and 470-630 math; ACT runs 20-26. The school is broadly accessible and functions more as a community-fit institution than a selective one. Admission signals primarily reflect whether a student fits the Adventist community context rather than academic selectivity.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
The faith community mission creates a self-selecting student body that prioritizes factors beyond financial return, which the ROI score cannot capture.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andrews University (this school) | 56 | $12,547 | $53,187 |
| Judson University | 58 | $18,558 | $56,313 |
| Pacific Union College | 57 | $41,008 | $70,484 |
| Bryan College-Dayton | 54 | $20,614 | $54,434 |
| Eastern Mennonite University | 53 | $24,588 | $54,869 |
| Union University | 52 | $27,171 | $53,990 |
Who Thrives Here
Andrews attracts students drawn to the Seventh-day Adventist faith community and its distinctive campus culture, including a strong international student presence. ACT range of 20-26 and SAT 470-660 reflects moderate academic preparation. Students who thrive tend to be internally motivated, value the community environment, and aim for health professions. With 25% Pell grant recipients, the school serves a mix of faith-community middle-income students and those seeking the Adventist academic environment regardless of cost.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Andrews University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $12,547 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $53,187 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 10.5 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 71.5% graduation rate. What to keep an eye on: a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.74 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 60.4% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $26,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $35,200 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.74. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Andrews University: Common Questions
Is Andrews University worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Andrews University scores 56/100 on our ROI scale. At $12,547 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $53,187 ten years after entry, so it takes about 10.5 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Andrews University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $12,547 a year, or roughly $50,188 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Andrews University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $53,187 ten years after enrolling, roughly $11,387 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Andrews University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 10.5 years for Andrews University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Andrews University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $26,000, against average earnings of $35,200 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.74. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Andrews University?
The six-year graduation rate is 71.5%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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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.