Campbell University
Buies Creek, North Carolina · Private Nonprofit · 87.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 49/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Campbell University scores 49 (Below Average Value) on the CampusROI scale - a Baptist-affiliated institution in Buies Creek, NC with 2,680 enrolled undergraduates and a $41,600 sticker tuition discounted to a $24,516 net price. The composite score reflects a 12-year payback period, a 0.581 debt-to-earnings ratio, a 61.0% completion rate, and a repayment rate of 68.5% - only about two-thirds of borrowers making progress on their debt at 7 years. Average 6-year earnings of $38,700 lag what the cost structure demands. The Scorecard does not report standardized test score ranges for this institution. The best-performing programs are concentrated in healthcare and quantitative fields: Nursing (47 grads, $70,772 year-one, grade B), Finance (35 grads, $60,445 year-one, grade B), Science Technologies (41 grads, $59,366 year-one, grade B+), and Pharmacy (18 grads, $54,919 year-one, grade B). The worst-performing are Kinesiology (99 graduates - the largest single program - at $32,167 year-one, grade D), Psychology (39 grads, $33,892 year-one, grade D), and Biology (26 grads, $35,579 year-one, grade D). The wide spread between Campbell's best and worst programs is the central finding: a student in Nursing or Finance at Campbell gets a materially different return than the institutional average suggests, while a Kinesiology or Psychology student at $24,500 per year net faces a difficult payback trajectory.
Campbell University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $41,600/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $41,600/yr |
| Average net price | $24,516/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $98,064 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $54,886 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $38,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $239 |
| Estimated payback period | 12 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 61.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,680 |
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: $41,600/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $24,516/year, or roughly $98,064 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 $20,751/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $30,864/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $22,500, which works out to about $239 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($38,700) and comes to 0.58, 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 | $20,751 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $20,981 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $19,979 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $26,959 |
| $110,001+ | $30,864 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $20,751 per year at Campbell. The 30001-48000 bracket pays $20,981, essentially flat. For low-income students, the 61.0% completion rate is the primary risk factor: enrolling at $20,751 per year and not completing produces debt without a degree. Students in this bracket who are targeting nursing or finance programs face much better odds than those entering kinesiology or psychology.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $19,979 at Campbell - the lowest point in the entire net price schedule, meaning middle-income families with demonstrated need receive more aid than the lowest-income band. The 75001-110000 bracket rises sharply to $26,959. Middle-income families considering Campbell should focus on which program their student is entering: nursing and finance at $20,000 per year net is defensible.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $30,864 per year at Campbell, totaling roughly $123,000 over four years. At $38,700 average earnings and a 12-year payback, full-pay Campbell is financially weak for most majors. Nursing ($70,772 year-one) and Finance ($60,445 year-one) are the exceptions where full-pay cost can be recovered in a reasonable timeline.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Campbell University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $49,087 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $59,746 | C+ |
| Registered Nursing | $79,506 | B |
| Science Technologies/Technicians, Other | $75,425 | B+ |
| Psychology | $46,246 | D |
| Finance and Financial Management | $78,021 | B |
| Marketing | $63,181 | C+ |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration | $68,578 | C+ |
| Homeland Security | $62,695 | C |
| Biology | $56,463 | 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
Nursing is Campbell's strongest ROI program: 47 graduates, $70,772 year-one, $79,506 at year four, debt-to-earnings 0.367 (grade B) on $26,000 median debt. Year-one earnings of $70,772 reflect North Carolina healthcare market wages, which are competitive for the region. The four-year figure of $79,506 is modest relative to year-one, consistent with staff nursing roles. For students who can secure admission and complete this program at a $24,516 net price, the payback period is manageable - roughly 4 to 5 years on the degree debt alone.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology is Campbell's largest program by graduate count at 99 graduates, and it produces the weakest financial return of any sizable program: $32,167 year-one, $49,087 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.785 (grade D) on $25,250 median debt. Students interested in kinesiology at Campbell should be planning for graduate or professional school - the bachelor's degree alone produces a D-grade return at this price point, and $25,000 in debt against $32,000 in year-one earnings is a slow-burning financial constraint.
Psychology
Psychology earns a D grade: 39 graduates, $33,892 year-one, $46,246 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.797 on $27,000 median debt. At $24,516 net price per year, four years produces roughly $98,000 in total cost exposure, and $27,000 in median debt suggests significant grant aid - but the earnings trajectory still doesn't close the gap quickly. As with kinesiology, psychology at Campbell is a graduate-school pathway, not a standalone career credential.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 62.9% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 68.5% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 68.4% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 74.3% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Campbell 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 | 87.2% |
| Enrollment | 2,680 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 37.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,210 |
Campbell's 87.2% admission rate makes it broadly accessible. The Scorecard does not report SAT or ACT score ranges. Prospective students should focus their evaluation on the specific program they intend to enter rather than on admissions hurdles. For nursing specifically, inquire about competitive internal admissions and clinical placement capacity - program-level acceptance may be far more selective than the institutional rate suggests. Students without a clear professional pathway should use that as a prompt to clarify goals before enrolling.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campbell University (this school) | 49 | $24,516 | $54,886 |
| Biola University | 50 | $31,495 | $56,778 |
| Olivet Nazarene University | 50 | $20,729 | $53,213 |
| Taylor University | 50 | $24,865 | $52,198 |
| Central College | 49 | $23,377 | $54,317 |
| Maranatha Baptist University | 47 | $26,005 | $45,593 |
Who Thrives Here
Campbell admits 87.2% of applicants. The Scorecard does not report standardized test score ranges for this institution. With 2,680 enrolled undergraduates and a 37.6% Pell grant rate, Campbell serves a moderately mixed-income student body. The Baptist identity shapes campus culture but does not restrict enrollment to religious applicants. The 61.0% completion rate is a genuine risk signal: 4 in 10 students who start do not finish. Students choosing Campbell need to have a specific program in mind - the institution's value proposition is highly path-dependent, with healthcare and business generating acceptable returns and social science or exercise science programs generating weak ones.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Campbell University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $24,516 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $54,886 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 12 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: weak earnings relative to cost, a three-year loan repayment rate of 68.5% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $22,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $38,700 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.58, 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.
Campbell University: Common Questions
Is Campbell University worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Campbell University scores 49/100 on our ROI scale. At $24,516 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $54,886 ten years after entry, so it takes about 12 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Campbell 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 $24,516 a year, or roughly $98,064 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 Campbell University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $54,886 ten years after enrolling, roughly $13,086 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 Campbell 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 12 years for Campbell University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Campbell University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $22,500, against average earnings of $38,700 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.58. 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 Campbell University?
The six-year graduation rate is 61.0%. 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.