Bethune-Cookman University
Daytona Beach, Florida · Private Nonprofit · 88.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 9/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Bethune-Cookman University is a private nonprofit Historically Black University in Daytona Beach, Florida, enrolling approximately 2,732 students. Its overall ROI score of 9 - the lowest tier - reflects a convergence of deeply concerning financial indicators: a 30.5% completion rate, average six-year earnings of just $26,000, and a payback period of 53.5 years based on average costs. Median debt of $31,000 against those earnings produces a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.19, meaning the median borrower carries debt exceeding annual income. Only 32% of borrowers are making progress on loans three years after leaving school. Net price averages $12,030 after aid, but the extremely low completion rate means many students pay that cost without earning the credential. The institution's HBCU mission provides important cultural and historical value not captured in financial metrics, and Bethune-Cookman has served generations of Black students in Florida. However, prospective students must confront these financial realities directly and pressure-test their plans to complete the degree within the expected timeframe.
How Bethune-Cookman 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 Score9/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- Debt-to-earnings1.19 - Median debt is larger than one year of average earnings six years after entry (a ratio above 1.0).
- 6-year graduation rate30.5% - The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our score, since a degree that is not finished rarely pays back.
- Payback period>50 years - In our estimate, the earnings premium over a high school completer is small next to the cost, so the cost may not be recouped within a working career.
Bethune-Cookman University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $14,794/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $14,794/yr |
| Average net price | $12,030/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $48,120 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $38,518 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $26,000 |
| Median debt at graduation | $31,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $329 |
| Estimated payback period | >50 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 30.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,732 |
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: $14,794/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $12,030/year, or roughly $48,120 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 $10,896/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $18,654/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $31,000, which works out to about $329 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($26,000) and comes to 1.19, 1.0 or higher, meaning median debt is at least 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 | $10,896 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $11,487 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $14,346 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $17,882 |
| $110,001+ | $18,654 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Students from families earning under $30,000 face a net price of $10,896. Federal and institutional aid substantially reduce sticker cost for Pell-eligible students. However, with only 32% of borrowers making repayment progress, even a modest loan burden becomes unmanageable for students who do not complete. Low-income students should enroll only with a concrete completion plan and financial safety net.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income students ($48,001 - $75,000) pay approximately $14,346 in net price - higher than lower-income students, suggesting aid packaging favors need-based awards. At this price point and against $26,000 in average six-year earnings, the financial stress is significant for students in typical non-nursing programs. Families in this bracket should model debt-to-income scenarios for their intended program specifically.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income students ($110,000-plus) pay about $18,654, close to sticker. For higher-income families, the HBCU environment is the part of the decision the Scorecard figures do not capture. Students with family capacity to pay should prioritize completing the degree within four years to minimize total cost exposure.
Earnings by Major
Top 8 most popular majors at Bethune-Cookman University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $42,127 | F |
| Psychology | $37,793 | - |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $50,413 | - |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $46,540 | - |
| Communication and Media Studies | $30,852 | - |
| Registered Nursing | $76,641 | - |
| Gerontology | $51,623 | - |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $33,933 | - |
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
With only 6 graduates in the tracked cohort, sample size is very small and individual outcomes will vary. If Bethune-Cookman's nursing pipeline strengthens, it could meaningfully reshape aggregate outcomes. Students admitted to the nursing program see a categorically different earnings trajectory than the institutional average.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is the institution's largest tracked program with 39 graduates. Four-year median earnings of $50,413 are respectable relative to the net price. Debt data is not available for this cohort, limiting a full ROI assessment. The institution's HBCU alumni network in Florida's business community may provide unofficial labor market value not captured in Scorecard earnings data.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice graduates report four-year median earnings of $46,540 - above the institutional average, reflecting placement in law enforcement and public safety roles. With 39 graduates and no debt data available, a full ratio calculation is not possible. Florida's strong public-sector labor market for criminal justice roles may support these outcomes. Students should inquire about internship pipelines and law enforcement agency partnerships.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 20.4% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 32.2% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 28.8% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 33.6% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Bethune-Cookman 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 | 88.2% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 400-480 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 430-510 |
| Enrollment | 2,732 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 78.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,167 |
Bethune-Cookman admitted 88% of applicants based on available data, with SAT math mid-range of 400 - 480 and reading of 430 - 510. These scores indicate a broad-access institution. The key financial question is not admission but financial aid packaging: the $10,896 average net price for the lowest-income students is modest, but any unmet need leading to high debt is especially risky given earnings outcomes.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bethune-Cookman University (this school) | 9 | $12,030 | $38,518 |
| Lincoln University | 10 | $19,092 | $39,463 |
| Fort Valley State University | 9 | $10,338 | $36,666 |
| Kentucky State University | 9 | $8,040 | $36,382 |
| South Carolina State University | 9 | $18,097 | $38,262 |
| Virginia Union University | 9 | $13,235 | $38,275 |
Who Thrives Here
Bethune-Cookman primarily serves Black students in Florida and the Southeast, with a 78% Pell Grant rate signaling that nearly four in five students come from low- to moderate-income families. Students who thrive here are deeply connected to the institution's HBCU community, mission, and alumni network. The financial data demands honest planning: students who are underprepared academically or uncertain about their major face high attrition risk. Committed, supported students - particularly in nursing or business - can navigate toward meaningful outcomes.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, Bethune-Cookman University scores 9/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $12,030 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $38,518 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at more than 50 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, its 30.5% graduation rate, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.19 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 32.2% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $31,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $26,000 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.19. That is 1.0 or higher, meaning median debt is at least a full year of those earnings, so your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Bethune-Cookman University: Common Questions
Is Bethune-Cookman University worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. Bethune-Cookman University scores 9/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $12,030 a year after aid against $38,518 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at more than 50 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does Bethune-Cookman 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 $12,030 a year, or roughly $48,120 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 Bethune-Cookman University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $38,518 ten years after enrolling, at or below the $41,800 median for high-school graduates (NCES, 2022). With little earnings gap to cover the cost, the financial return is hard to make.
How long does it take to pay off Bethune-Cookman 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 more than 50 years for Bethune-Cookman University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Bethune-Cookman University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $31,000, against average earnings of $26,000 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.19. That is 1.0 or higher, meaning median debt is at least a full year of those earnings, so how much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Bethune-Cookman University?
The six-year graduation rate is 30.5%. 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.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
From CampusROI, when there is something worth acting on.
Rankings & Links
Guides & Tools
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.