Avila University
Kansas City, Missouri · Private Nonprofit · 87.8% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 51/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Avila University scores 51 (Below Average Value) on the CampusROI scale. The institution sits at a financially uncomfortable position: $42,000 sticker tuition with a $16,053 average net price, $25,000 median debt, and $39,900 average six-year earnings. The 11.5-year payback period signals that typical graduates are not earning enough, fast enough, to offset the cost. Just 52.4% of enrolled students graduate, and 30.9% of borrowers were not actively reducing their loan balance at the three-year repayment mark - both numbers indicating structural financial strain. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.627 is high. Registered Nursing (37 graduates) is the institution's best ROI case: $67,179 year-one, $74,562 at year four, B-grade. Business Administration and Management (24 graduates) shows a striking four-year trajectory to $83,385, but the C ROI grade reflects a $32,750 median debt load against $47,530 year-one earnings. Psychology and Communication both earn D grades, with debt-to-earnings ratios of 0.839 and 0.796 respectively. Avila's value case is defensible only for students entering health-related programs - for liberal arts and social science majors, the financial risk is real and the returns are modest.
Avila University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $42,000/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $42,000/yr |
| Average net price | $16,053/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $64,212 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $52,773 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $39,900 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $265 |
| Estimated payback period | 11.5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 52.4% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,312 |
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: $42,000/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $16,053/year, or roughly $64,212 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 $15,694/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $19,775/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $25,000, which works out to about $265 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($39,900) and comes to 0.63, 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 | $15,694 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $14,939 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $14,682 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $17,852 |
| $110,001+ | $19,775 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $15,694 per year at Avila - a substantial figure for a family with no income above $30,000. The 30001-48000 bracket drops slightly to $14,939. With $25,000 median debt and $39,900 average six-year earnings, low-income students at Avila carry significant financial risk if they do not complete the degree or do not enter a health-field program. The Pell grant rate of 56.4% indicates the institution serves many low-income students; the repayment data suggests many are struggling after graduation.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $14,682 - the lowest net price on the schedule, an inversion that suggests aid formula mechanics favor this bracket. The 75001-110000 bracket rises to $17,852. Middle-income families in both brackets face four-year costs of roughly $59,000-71,000. Against an 11.5-year payback period at median earnings, this is a meaningful financial commitment. Health and nursing students justify the cost; social science and humanities students face a harder financial case.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The 110001-plus bracket pays $19,775 per year - a four-year total of roughly $79,100. At full price, Avila's ROI case weakens considerably. Average earnings of $39,900 at six years against a $79,000 investment yields a payback period well beyond a decade. The B-grade nursing ROI may justify the cost for students specifically committed to Avila's health programs.
Earnings by Major
Top 5 most popular majors at Avila University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $74,562 | B |
| Business Administration and Management | $83,385 | C |
| Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment | $68,865 | C |
| Psychology | $50,905 | D |
| Communication and Media Studies | $48,148 | D |
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.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing is Avila's strongest program: 37 graduates, $67,179 median year-one earnings, $74,562 at year four, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.402 (B grade). Median debt of $27,000 is higher than public nursing programs but manageable against a $67k starting salary. Kansas City's healthcare sector provides steady demand. This program represents the clearest positive ROI case at the institution.
Business Administration and Management
Business Administration (24 graduates) shows an unusual year-four earnings number - $83,385 - suggesting graduates who build careers in finance, operations, or management in the Kansas City business community can reach strong mid-career wages. The C ROI grade reflects the tension between that trajectory and the $32,750 median debt and $47,530 year-one earnings. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.689 is uncomfortable. Students who stay in this field through five or more years may justify the cost, but the near-term financial picture is tight.
Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment
Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment (20 graduates) earns $55,605 at year one and $68,865 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.558 (C grade). Median debt of $31,000 is the program's main drag - it is $4,000 higher than nursing with lower first-year earnings. The C grade reflects adequate but not strong returns.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 61.2% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 69.1% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 62.6% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 69.5% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Avila 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 | 87.8% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 370-460 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 430-500 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 16-21 |
| Enrollment | 1,312 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 56.4% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,779 |
At 87.8%, Avila is accessible to nearly all applicants. The SAT Math range is 370-460 and Reading 430-500. Test scores are not a meaningful filter here. The more important question is financial fit: with $25,000 median debt and $39,900 average six-year earnings, graduates carry a debt load that takes over a decade to recover. Students who complete the nursing or allied health programs have meaningfully better outcomes than the institutional median.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avila University (this school) | 51 | $16,053 | $52,773 |
| Pacific University | 52 | $35,273 | $60,583 |
| Hardin-Simmons University | 51 | $19,555 | $54,771 |
| Oglethorpe University | 48 | $19,509 | $55,232 |
| Calvary University | 30 | $16,334 | $45,421 |
| Mission University | 15 | $21,383 | $38,641 |
Who Thrives Here
Enrollment is 1,312 undergraduates, and 56.4% of students receive Pell grants, reflecting a predominantly low-income student population in Kansas City. The Catholic mission shapes a community-oriented campus culture. Students drawn to the health sciences, particularly nursing, have a viable path here. Students considering business, social sciences, or communication should carefully model the debt-to-earnings outcomes against median program-level earnings before enrolling at $42,000 in annual sticker tuition.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Avila University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $16,053 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $52,773 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 11.5 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 to keep an eye on: its 52.4% graduation rate, a three-year loan repayment rate of 69.1% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $25,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $39,900 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Avila University: Common Questions
Is Avila University worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Avila University scores 51/100 on our ROI scale. At $16,053 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $52,773 ten years after entry, so it takes about 11.5 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Avila 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 $16,053 a year, or roughly $64,212 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 Avila University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $52,773 ten years after enrolling, roughly $10,973 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 Avila 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 11.5 years for Avila University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Avila University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,000, against average earnings of $39,900 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Avila University?
The six-year graduation rate is 52.4%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (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.