Bryan College-Dayton
Dayton, Tennessee · Private Nonprofit
ROI Score: 54/100 · Below Average Value
Bryan College-Dayton, a small evangelical Christian college in Tennessee, earns a 54 ROI score in the Below Average Value tier. The headline issue is the net-price-over-tuition gap: tuition is $19,800, but net price is slightly HIGHER at $20,614, meaning fees and indirect costs outpace whatever institutional aid is being awarded. Four-year total runs $82,456. Ten-year median earnings of $54,434 produce a 23.6 percent earnings premium - decent for a small Christian college. Median federal debt is moderate at $23,000, debt-to-earnings is 0.582, and payback runs 11.4 years. The standout strength here is repayment: 82.6 percent of borrowers are making principal progress one year out, climbing to 82.6 percent at seven years. Those repayment numbers are excellent and signal that Bryan's graduates take debt seriously and service it well. Completion is a middling 49.7 percent. Pell rate is 26.6 percent, suggesting a moderately affluent evangelical student body. Enrollment is small at 814. Bryan College's mission as a young-earth-creationist Christian college serving evangelical families means the value proposition is heavily about religious community fit, not pure ROI - but the financial structure is at least sustainable for graduates who complete the degree.
Bryan College-Dayton
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $19,800/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $19,800/yr |
| Average net price | $20,614/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $82,456 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $54,434 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $39,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $244 |
| Estimated payback period | 11.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 49.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 814 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Bryan College-Dayton is $19,800/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $20,614/year, or roughly $82,456 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $19,500/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $21,035/year.
The median graduate leaves with $23,000 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $244 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $54,434 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.58 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
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 | $19,500 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $19,904 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $21,807 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $20,655 |
| $110,001+ | $21,035 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $19,500 per year net, about $78,000 over four. Pell plus Tennessee Promise (if eligible) covers some of this, but Pell-only typically leaves $12K+ per year requiring Direct loan borrowing. Note the very flat income progression at Bryan - all brackets from $0-30K through $110K+ pay between $19,500 and $21,807, an exceptionally narrow band suggesting institutional aid is essentially uniform rather than need-based.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Households at $48,001 to $75,000 pay $21,807 - actually the HIGHEST of any bracket reported. The next bracket ($75,001-$110,000) actually drops to $20,655. This inverted middle pattern is unusual and may reflect TN Hope Scholarship eligibility cliffs or other state-aid phase-outs hitting middle-income families hardest.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Households above $110,000 pay $21,035 per year, about $84,100 over four. Essentially flat with other brackets. Affluent families get no meaningful institutional discount at Bryan, suggesting the school's aid model is uniform-discount-from-sticker rather than progressive. Total cost runs close to sticker for everyone.
Earnings by Major
Top 5 most popular majors at Bryan College-Dayton with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $64,283 | C+ |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $43,654 | - |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $44,431 | D |
| Psychology | $47,549 | C+ |
| Communication and Media Studies | $32,530 | - |
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.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is the largest reported program with 27 graduates. One-year earnings of $52,528 climb to $64,283 by year four, against $27,000 median debt - a 0.514 ratio and C+ grade. Chattanooga and East Tennessee small-business and corporate hiring absorb this pipeline. Earnings here outperform many small-Christian-college business programs, suggesting good employer relationships in the region.
Teacher Education, Subject-Specific
Teacher Education produces 19 graduates with four-year earnings of $43,654. Debt is not reported. East Tennessee public-school districts and Christian K-12 schools (Chattanooga Christian, McCallie, etc.) hire from this pipeline. Tennessee teacher pay scales are middling by national standards; the financial pathway is sustainable thanks to modest debt at the school overall.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology graduates 18 students with one-year earnings of $27,342 climbing to $44,431 by year four, against $26,077 debt - 0.954 ratio and D grade. Standard kinesiology trajectory - graduate-school continuation in PT, OT, or PA is the pathway to professional pay; without that, graduates land in coaching or fitness roles at modest wages. Plan for the longer pathway.
Psychology
Psychology produces 15 graduates with four-year earnings of $47,549 against $23,880 debt - 0.502 ratio and C+ grade. Standard psych BA outcome with reasonably controlled debt. Most graduates pursuing professional psychology work continue to masters or PhD programs in clinical or counseling psychology; the bachelor's is a foundation, not a terminal credential.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 82.6% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 84.6% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 75.0% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 82.6% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Enrollment | 814 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 26.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $5,751 |
Admission rate is not reported in current Scorecard data, and no SAT or ACT mid-ranges are reported. Bryan College uses faith-statement-aligned admissions alongside academics; mission fit drives much of who applies. As a small evangelical college, selectivity is low for academically qualified applicants who can demonstrate faith alignment. The 49.7 percent completion rate reflects a mix of academic preparation and financial challenges across the student body.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Bryan's peer set is well-matched: American Baptist College, Baptist Health Sciences University, Newman University, Eastern Mennonite University, and University of Saint Joseph are all small religious-affiliated institutions. Baptist Health Sciences is the only one with notably better ROI thanks to a healthcare-focused major mix. Newman and Eastern Mennonite score similarly to Bryan in the 50s range. Within Tennessee Christian higher ed, Bryan compares unfavorably to Lee University and Belmont (both notably stronger ROI thanks to scale and broader major mixes).
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bryan College-Dayton (this school) | 54 | $20,614 | $54,434 |
| Pacific Union College | 57 | $41,008 | $70,484 |
| Andrews University | 56 | $12,547 | $53,187 |
| Eastern Mennonite University | 53 | $24,588 | $54,869 |
| Union University | 52 | $27,171 | $53,990 |
| Trevecca Nazarene University | 51 | $16,813 | $49,378 |
Who Thrives Here
Bryan College fits evangelical Christian students - particularly from young-earth-creationist families - seeking a small Bible-grounded liberal-arts community in rural East Tennessee. Enrollment of 814 keeps cohorts intimate; the 26.6 percent Pell rate indicates a moderately affluent enrolled population. Strongest outcomes are concentrated in business ($52K one-year, $64K four-year). Students should be clear-eyed that the value proposition is religious-cultural fit and theological alignment, not optimized ROI - if those things matter to the family, the cost is justifiable; if not, regional Tennessee publics deliver better financial outcomes.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The financial case for Bryan College-Dayton is mixed. At $20,614 per year net cost, graduates earn a median of $54,434 ten years after entry - a payback period of 11.4 years. That's below the average return for four-year institutions, and prospective students should carefully consider whether the investment aligns with their financial goals.
Key strengths include high loan repayment success. However, the data also shows a 49.7% graduation rate.
Median debt of $23,000 against $54,434 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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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.