Dallas Baptist University
Dallas, Texas · Private Nonprofit · 88.8% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 51/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Dallas Baptist University scores 51 (Below Average Value) on the CampusROI scale - a Baptist-affiliated private institution in Dallas, TX with 2,403 enrolled students and a $40,190 sticker tuition discounted to a $28,516 net price. The score reflects an 11.7-year payback period, a 19.1% earnings premium, a 0.503 debt-to-earnings ratio, a 57.0% completion rate, and a 67.3% repayment rate at 3 years. The program portfolio at DBU is notably business- and ministry-heavy. Finance (34 grads, $51,444 year-one, grade B) and Teacher Education (28 grads, $54,594 year-one, grade B) lead the graded programs. Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies (60 grads, $35,924 year-one, grade C) is the largest confirmed-graduate program. Kinesiology (27 grads, $29,344 year-one, grade D) is the weakest graded program. Accounting (15 grads, $103,694 at year four) shows strong long-term potential but lacks year-one data.
Dallas Baptist University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $40,190/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $40,190/yr |
| Average net price | $28,516/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $114,064 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $56,807 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $42,900 |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,591 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $229 |
| Estimated payback period | 11.7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 57.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,403 |
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: $40,190/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $28,516/year, or roughly $114,064 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 $25,326/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $32,273/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $21,591, which works out to about $229 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($42,900) and comes to 0.50, 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 | $25,326 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $25,996 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $28,024 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $28,242 |
| $110,001+ | $32,273 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $25,326 per year at DBU, and the earnings premium is 19.1%. The combination of $25,326 per year in net price, a 57.0% completion rate, and $42,900 average 6-year earnings makes DBU a financially difficult choice for low-income families even when the faith community and campus environment are valued.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $28,024 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $28,242 - essentially identical, reflecting that DBU's aid schedule flattens significantly across income levels. For middle-income families, the near-uniform net price means that family income has almost no effect on what DBU costs. The faith environment and residential community are the value proposition; the financial data does not support the premium.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $32,273 per year at DBU - a four-year total near $129,000. At $42,900 average 6-year earnings, the payback on $129,000 over four years is approximately 13-14 years. For high-income families whose students are drawn to DBU's Christian mission and DFW location, the financial case requires program selection within the institution: Finance and Teacher Education graduates recover costs substantially faster than Kinesiology or Communication graduates. High-income families should evaluate program-specific outcomes, not the institutional average.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Dallas Baptist University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $55,690 | C |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $72,897 | C+ |
| Psychology | $51,088 | C |
| Finance and Financial Management | $78,870 | B |
| Teacher Education | $54,079 | B |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $49,906 | D |
| Marketing | $66,736 | B |
| Communication and Media Studies | $48,598 | C |
| Biology | $60,722 | D |
| Entrepreneurship | $65,140 | - |
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.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance is DBU's strongest graded program: 34 confirmed graduates, $51,444 year-one, $78,870 at year four, grade B on $22,922 median debt. The four-year trajectory to $78,870 indicates solid career progression. At a $28,516 net price, Finance at DBU delivers a B-grade outcome.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is DBU's largest graded program at 58 confirmed graduates: $47,888 year-one, $72,897 at year four, grade C+ on $25,500 median debt. Year-one earnings of $47,888 in Dallas are competitive for a general business graduate. The four-year trajectory to $72,897 is adequate. At $28,516 net price, the C+ grade reflects a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.532 - graduates owe slightly more than 6 months of annual pre-tax income. Business is the program where the DBU premium over DFW public universities is hardest to justify on financial grounds alone.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology produces 27 confirmed graduates at $29,344 year-one and $49,906 at year four, grade D on $24,625 median debt. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.839 means graduates owe nearly a full year's pre-tax income. Kinesiology graduates at DBU who aim for physical therapy, athletic training, or fitness management careers will need post-baccalaureate education - a master's or DPT - to reach adequate earnings. The bachelor's degree alone does not produce earnings that justify a $28,516 net price at DBU.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 62.2% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 67.3% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 62.4% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 65.9% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Dallas Baptist 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 | 88.8% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 470-593 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 490-620 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 20-26 |
| Enrollment | 2,403 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 23.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,487 |
DBU's 88.8% admission rate is broadly accessible. SAT is 470-593 Math and 490-620 Reading, and ACT is 20-26 composite. The institution admits the vast majority of applicants, suggesting that self-selection and fit with DBU's faith mission drive enrollment more than academic screening.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas Baptist University (this school) | 51 | $28,516 | $56,807 |
| Trine University | 52 | $25,355 | $57,165 |
| Abilene Christian University | 51 | $26,182 | $55,736 |
| Carthage College | 51 | $26,565 | $56,950 |
| Campbell University | 49 | $24,516 | $54,886 |
| Arlington Baptist University | 14 | $24,906 | $44,644 |
Who Thrives Here
DBU admits 88.8% of applicants. SAT mid-ranges are 470-593 Math and 490-620 Reading; ACT composite 20-26. With 2,403 enrolled undergraduates and a 23.1% Pell grant rate, DBU serves a moderately mixed-income student body drawn predominantly from the Dallas-Fort Worth area and the broader evangelical Christian community. The institution's Christian identity is a defining feature - chapel attendance, biblical integration across programs, and a residential faith community are central to the DBU experience. Students who self-select for DBU's faith environment are making a values-aligned choice.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Dallas Baptist University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $28,516 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $56,807 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 11.7 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 67.3% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $21,591 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $42,900 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.50, 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.
Dallas Baptist University: Common Questions
Is Dallas Baptist University worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Dallas Baptist University scores 51/100 on our ROI scale. At $28,516 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $56,807 ten years after entry, so it takes about 11.7 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Dallas Baptist 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 $28,516 a year, or roughly $114,064 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 Dallas Baptist University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $56,807 ten years after enrolling, roughly $15,007 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 Dallas Baptist 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 11.7 years for Dallas Baptist University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Dallas Baptist University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $21,591, against average earnings of $42,900 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.50. 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 Dallas Baptist University?
The six-year graduation rate is 57.0%. 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.