Campbellsville University
Campbellsville, Kentucky · Private Nonprofit · 79.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 25/100 · Poor Value
Campbellsville University, a Baptist-affiliated private nonprofit in central Kentucky, scores 25 on the CampusROI framework and lands in Poor Value tier. The institution has built a sizable online and adult-learner enrollment alongside its residential program (combined 2,840 students), and the data reflects that hybrid model. Tuition is $27,998, net price $19,341, and 4-year total cost $77,364. Median 6-year earnings of $28,700 climb to $41,583 at 10 years, with a 33-year payback period that means earnings struggle to recoup cost on standard discount terms. Median debt is moderate at $17,156, producing a 0.598 debt-to-earnings ratio. The drags on the score are completion rate (42%) and repayment rate (63.7%), both consistent with the part-time and online enrollment patterns that depress federal completion metrics. Campbellsville's nursing program is a clear bright spot, and the school's role as a regional credentialing pipeline for rural Kentucky is real even where the federal earnings data is unflattering.
The data raises concerns about Campbellsville University
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score25/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Payback period33 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Campbellsville University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $27,998/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $27,998/yr |
| Average net price | $19,341/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $77,364 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $41,583 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $28,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $17,156 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $182 |
| Estimated payback period | 33 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 42.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,840 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Campbellsville University is $27,998/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $19,341/year, or roughly $77,364 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $17,880/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $23,105/year.
The median graduate leaves with $17,156 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $182 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $41,583 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.60 - 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 | $17,880 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $17,936 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $18,476 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $19,291 |
| $110,001+ | $23,105 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $17,880 net, and the $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $17,936, essentially flat. Over four years, low-income families face roughly $71,520 of cost, which is heavy against $28,700 in 6-year earnings. Pell-eligible students can cover a meaningful share through Pell plus state grants, with the gap closed by federal loans.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $18,476 and the $75,001-$110,000 bracket pays $19,291. The aid curve is essentially flat through middle income, with very small bracket-to-bracket differences. Middle-income families effectively pay close to the school-wide average regardless of income, which limits the value case for families weighing this versus in-state Kentucky publics.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $23,105 net, $4,893 below the $27,998 sticker. Campbellsville's pricing structure compresses across most income brackets and reserves modest additional pricing for the highest-income bracket. For high-income families, the value case rests on faith alignment and residential community rather than financial discount.
Earnings by Major
Top 7 most popular majors at Campbellsville University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management | $59,805 | C |
| Social Work | $55,942 | D |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $50,692 | C+ |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $41,900 | C |
| Teacher Education | $36,564 | C |
| Registered Nursing | $79,651 | B |
| Psychology | $38,373 | 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.
Business Administration and Management
Business Administration is Campbellsville's largest reported program with 95 graduates, posting $36,749 in 1-year earnings and $59,805 at year four. The 0.671 debt-to-earnings ratio earns a C grade against $24,675 of debt. The 4-year jump to $60K is healthier than the school median and reflects mid-career progression in regional employers and small-business management. Debt is comfortably serviceable on the 4-year wage.
Social Work
Social Work graduates 58 students with $34,852 in 1-year earnings and $55,942 at year four. The 0.785 debt-to-earnings ratio earns a D grade against $27,360 of debt. The earnings curve from $35K to $56K is consistent with state-employed BSW progression and eventual MSW credentialing. Year-one debt service is tight; students should plan for MSW continuation to unlock the higher wage scale.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is Campbellsville's standout ROI program: 20 graduates, $65,518 in 1-year earnings, $79,651 at year four, and a 0.435 debt-to-earnings ratio earning a B grade. Debt of $28,500 against $65K of starting pay is comfortably serviced, and the Kentucky hospital ecosystem (Norton, Baptist Health, UK HealthCare) provides direct placement. A clean value case for the nursing pathway.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice graduates 32 students with $36,849 in 1-year earnings and $41,900 at year four. The 0.585 debt-to-earnings ratio earns a C grade against $21,550 of debt. The flat earnings curve is consistent with rural law-enforcement pay scales where progression is slow but pensioned. The credential is a gate for state police, federal LE, and corrections supervisor roles.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education graduates 24 students with $36,469 in 1-year earnings and $36,564 at year four. The 0.634 debt-to-earnings ratio earns a C grade against $23,125 of debt. The very flat earnings curve is striking and reflects Kentucky teacher step-and-lane pay scales, which are among the lower in the nation. Progression in salary requires master's-degree credit and years of service.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 55.8% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 63.7% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 52.1% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 60.3% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 79.7% |
| Enrollment | 2,840 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 20.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,787 |
Campbellsville admits 79.7% of applicants, an open-access posture appropriate for a regional Baptist private with mission-oriented outreach. SAT and ACT mid-ranges are not reported, consistent with the school's test-optional posture. The 42% completion rate against an open admit posture is the familiar regional-private pattern, with significant attrition tied to the online-learner cohort whose federal completion math is structurally unfavorable. Residential students fare better.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Campbellsville's peer set is uneven. Alice Lloyd College is a similar small rural Kentucky private with similar challenges. Asbury University is a fellow Kentucky faith-affiliated private with significantly better earnings outcomes. Everglades University and Indiana Institute of Technology are online-heavy peers with similar enrollment dynamics. School of the Art Institute of Chicago is a category-mismatch peer. Within the directly comparable Kentucky Baptist-private set, Campbellsville's metrics fall below Asbury and Georgetown College but above some smaller rural privates.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campbellsville University (this school) | 25 | $19,341 | $41,583 |
| Lee University | 27 | $18,878 | $43,222 |
| Missouri Baptist University | 25 | $27,006 | $46,660 |
| North Greenville University | 25 | $21,063 | $43,035 |
| Charleston Southern University | 24 | $21,666 | $45,898 |
| Truett McConnell University | 23 | $22,227 | $46,700 |
Who Thrives Here
Campbellsville fits Kentucky and Tennessee students seeking a faith-affiliated residential experience plus a clear pre-professional target, particularly nursing, education, or social work. With 2,840 students and a 20% Pell rate, the campus skews mid-income and rural. Strong fits are students with denominational alignment, regional ties, and a defined nursing or teaching pathway. Online learners pursuing master's-level or degree-completion programs are a distinct subpopulation; the residential ROI calculus does not directly transfer to them.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Campbellsville University. With a net cost of $19,341 per year and median graduate earnings of only $41,583 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 33 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 42.0% graduation rate and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $17,156 against $41,583 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.