Baldwin Wallace University
Berea, Ohio · Private Nonprofit · 75.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 44/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Baldwin Wallace University scores 44 (Below Benchmark), driven by a 13.1-year payback period, a 0.691 debt-to-earnings ratio, and $39,100 average 6-year earnings against $27,603 average net price. Sticker tuition is $39,832 but aid brings average cost to $27,603 - still high relative to what most graduates earn. The completion rate of 66.8% is the institution's best metric. The program mix is a serious problem: Drama earns an F-grade ROI (25 graduates, $16,055 year-one, debt-to-earnings 1.682), Theatre and English also carry F grades, and a wide swath of programs from Biology to Music to Kinesiology cluster in the D range. Finance (41 graduates, $51,347 year-one, C+) and Accounting (23 graduates, $59,401 year-one, C+) are the relative standouts in business. Nursing earns a C+ - unusual, since nursing typically scores higher - partly because median debt of $33,959 is elevated. The institution has a strong music conservatory reputation that attracts students for non-financial reasons, but the Scorecard data is clear: Baldwin Wallace's price-to-outcome ratio is poor across most programs.
How Baldwin Wallace University scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- ROI Score44/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
Baldwin Wallace University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $39,832/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $39,832/yr |
| Average net price | $27,603/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $110,412 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $54,122 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $39,100 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 13.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 66.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,842 |
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: $39,832/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $27,603/year, or roughly $110,412 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 $21,296/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $31,288/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $27,000, which works out to about $286 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($39,100) and comes to 0.69, 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 | $21,296 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $20,381 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $22,994 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $27,597 |
| $110,001+ | $31,288 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $21,296 per year at BW - the most favorable price in the schedule, and meaningfully below average net price. The 30001-48000 bracket pays $20,381, the lowest figure, reflecting aggressive aid for lower-income students. For families in these brackets, BW's aid model is somewhat generous, but $20,000-$21,000 per year for a school with a 13.1-year payback and $39,100 average earnings is still a heavy commitment. Low-income students should have a high-earning program target to justify enrollment.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $22,994 at BW, rising sharply from lower brackets. The 75001-110000 bracket climbs to $27,597. The step increase for middle-income families is significant: a family earning $75,000 pays $27,597 per year, nearly $7,000 more than a family earning $30,000. At $27,600 per year and $39,100 in average earnings, the value proposition for middle-income families without clear high-earning program paths is weak.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $31,288 per year at BW, totaling roughly $125,000 over four years. The exception is accounting, where $86,955 year-four earnings on $27,000 debt makes the investment digestible. Full-pay families whose students are entering music, drama, or communications programs should have a frank conversation about expected earnings trajectories before committing.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Baldwin Wallace University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $67,934 | C |
| Finance and Financial Management | $74,535 | C+ |
| Biology | $57,273 | D |
| Music | $37,682 | D |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $50,415 | D |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $59,020 | C |
| Teacher Education | $45,784 | D |
| Registered Nursing | $75,687 | C+ |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $36,251 | F |
| Accounting | $86,955 | C+ |
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.
Accounting
Accounting is Baldwin Wallace's strongest ROI program: 23 graduates, $59,401 year-one, $86,955 at year four, debt-to-earnings 0.455 (grade C+) on $27,000 median debt. The four-year trajectory to $87k is solid. Accounting graduates from BW likely place into regional Ohio accounting firms and corporate finance roles. The C+ rather than B reflects the $27,000 debt load against the earnings trajectory - serviceable but not exceptional. For students committed to accounting, BW's proximity to Cleveland firms is a real asset.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance produces 41 graduates at $51,347 year-one and $74,535 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.526 (grade C+) on $27,000 median debt. Students interested in financial services careers in northeast Ohio will find BW's alumni network and Cleveland proximity useful. The C+ grade reflects the private-school price: the same earnings trajectory is achievable at Ohio's public universities for significantly less debt.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Admin is BW's largest program at 67 graduates: $44,688 year-one, $67,934 at year four, debt-to-earnings 0.604 (grade C) on $27,000 median debt. Students who choose BW's business program should have specific reasons beyond proximity, such as internship access in Cleveland or particular concentrations not available at state schools.
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Drama earns the worst ROI at BW: 25 graduates, $16,055 year-one, $36,251 at year four, debt-to-earnings 1.682 (grade F) on $27,000 median debt. Graduates carry $27,000 in debt against year-one earnings of $16,055. This is not unique to BW - drama is a financially difficult field everywhere - but it is a direct consequence of BW's strong performing arts identity attracting students into a high-cost, low-return program. Students entering BW's conservatory should understand this data before borrowing.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 71.2% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 77.2% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 72.9% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 78.7% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Baldwin Wallace 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 | 75.7% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 510-640 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 550-650 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 22-29 |
| Enrollment | 2,842 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 29.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,614 |
At 75.7% admission, Baldwin Wallace is broadly accessible. The SAT mid-range of 510-640 Math and 550-650 Reading covers a moderate academic range. ACT 22-29 is consistent with that profile. Admission is not a barrier; the question for prospective students is whether the program they intend to pursue has strong enough outcomes to justify BW's private-school price. Finance and accounting students have a defensible case; arts students should enter with clear eyes about near-term earnings.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baldwin Wallace University (this school) | 44 | $27,603 | $54,122 |
| Concordia University-Wisconsin | 43 | $36,201 | $56,075 |
| Barry University | 42 | $22,613 | $55,966 |
| Uta Mesivta of Kiryas Joel | 29 | $4,156 | $31,853 |
| Allegheny Wesleyan College | 29 | $5,355 | $37,453 |
| Art Academy of Cincinnati | 9 | $34,253 | $34,368 |
Who Thrives Here
Baldwin Wallace admits 75.7% of applicants. SAT mid-ranges are 510-640 Math and 550-650 Reading; ACT composite 22-29. With 2,842 enrolled undergraduates and a 29.2% Pell grant rate, BW attracts a regional Ohio student body. The institution's music conservatory is a national-level program that draws students with performing arts goals. For arts-focused students, the financial calculus is different from ROI analysis - but they should understand that median drama graduates earn $16,055 in year one on $27,000 in debt.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, Baldwin Wallace University scores 44/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $27,603 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $54,122 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 13.1 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a long payback period.
Median debt of $27,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $39,100 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69. 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.
Baldwin Wallace University: Common Questions
Is Baldwin Wallace University worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. Baldwin Wallace University scores 44/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $27,603 a year after aid against $54,122 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 13.1 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does Baldwin Wallace 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 $27,603 a year, or roughly $110,412 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 Baldwin Wallace University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $54,122 ten years after enrolling, roughly $12,322 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 Baldwin Wallace 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 13.1 years for Baldwin Wallace University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Baldwin Wallace University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $27,000, against average earnings of $39,100 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69. 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 Baldwin Wallace University?
The six-year graduation rate is 66.8%, 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.