Dordt University
Sioux Center, Iowa · Private Nonprofit · 68.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 54/100 · Below Average Value
Dordt University scores 54 (Below Average Value), a weak result for a private Reformed Christian university in Sioux Center, Iowa charging $37,050 in tuition with $25,807 average net price. Median 6-year earnings of $37,900 and a 13.9-year payback period are poor relative to cost. Dordt's standout metric is its repayment rate of 96.8% at 3 years -- one of the highest on this site -- indicating that graduates who borrow are overwhelmingly making progress on their loans. The 70.1% completion rate is above average for its price tier. The disconnect is that good repayment and reasonable completion cannot overcome a 13.9-year payback driven by modest earnings against a high private school price.
Dordt University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $37,050/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $37,050/yr |
| Average net price | $25,807/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $103,228 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $52,559 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $37,900 |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $228 |
| Estimated payback period | 13.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 70.1% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,597 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Dordt University is $37,050/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $25,807/year, or roughly $103,228 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $22,597/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $29,940/year.
The median graduate leaves with $21,500 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $228 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $52,559 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.57 - 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 | $22,597 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $21,083 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $24,079 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $25,113 |
| $110,001+ | $29,940 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Low-income families (0-$30,000) pay $22,597 per year at Dordt -- $90,388 over four years. Against $37,900 median 6-year earnings and a 13.9-year payback, this is a poor financial value even at the lowest net price tier. The 96.8% repayment rate suggests graduates eventually manage their debt, but the accumulation takes many years. Low-income students with faith alignment considerations should compare Dordt against NWCC, Iowa State, or University of Sioux Falls on cost-adjusted outcomes.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $24,079 per year ($96,316 over four years) and the $75,001-$110,000 bracket pays $25,113 per year. At these prices, the payback against $37,900 median earnings extends to 15+ years. Middle-income families bear the weakest value case at Dordt: they receive limited aid but pay close to full net price against modest earnings outcomes. The school's high repayment rate buffers the damage, but does not eliminate the long payback period.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income families ($110,000+) pay $29,940 per year -- $119,760 over four years. At that cost, Dordt is only justifiable for families with a strong Reformed faith community rationale, a specific program (nursing, agribusiness, engineering), or access to institutional merit aid that lowers the effective cost. The financial case against $37,900 median earnings at full net price is objectively weak.
Earnings by Major
Top 7 most popular majors at Dordt University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Teacher Education | $43,531 | C+ |
| Registered Nursing | $66,190 | B+ |
| Finance and Financial Management | $74,869 | B |
| Mechanical Engineering | $78,118 | - |
| Agricultural Business and Management | $62,171 | B |
| Marketing | $43,944 | - |
| Accounting | $77,629 | - |
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 Dordt's strongest program by earnings at 26 graduates: $71,680 at year one and $66,190 at year four. The year-four figure being lower than year-one is unusual and may reflect small-sample statistical noise in Scorecard data. Median debt of $24,500 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.342 earn a B+ grade. Nursing completers from Dordt access Iowa and South Dakota rural healthcare markets where demand is persistent. This is the clearest ROI case on campus.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance (17 graduates) earns $52,640 at year one and $74,869 at year four, with a B-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.423 and $22,250 median debt. The 4-year trajectory to $74,869 reflects placement into regional corporate finance, banking, and agricultural lending roles in the Midwest. At Dordt's net price, finance is a competitive ROI case relative to the school's broader profile.
Agricultural Business and Management
Agricultural Business (15 graduates) earns $49,230 at year one and $62,171 at year four, with a B-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.386 and $19,000 median debt -- the lowest median debt on campus. The agricultural sector in Northwest Iowa and South Dakota provides a direct placement pipeline for Dordt's agribusiness graduates. The low debt and solid earnings make this program one of Dordt's better ROI cases for students committed to agribusiness careers in the region.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education is Dordt's largest high-volume program at 68 graduates and earns $39,749 at year one and $43,531 at year four, with a C+ debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.541. Iowa teacher salaries are near the national median but grow slowly in a step-based union schedule. Dordt teacher education graduates place predominantly into Christian school systems and Iowa public schools. The C+ grade reflects the structural tension between moderate teacher pay and Dordt's private school price point.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 93.9% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 96.8% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 93.0% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 93.4% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 68.5% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 530-660 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 540-670 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 21-29 |
| Enrollment | 1,597 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 20.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,251 |
Dordt's 68.5% admission rate and ACT 21-29 composite range describe a moderately accessible process for a small faith-based school. The SAT mid-ranges are comparable to regional Midwest private colleges. The school's self-selection means most applicants are either Reformed background or drawn specifically to the mission -- the admissions process screens more for fit than academic distinction.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Dordt's peers include Briar Cliff University, Buena Vista University, Southern Nazarene University, St. Francis College, and Trevecca Nazarene University. Dordt (54) sits near the middle of this group of small faith-affiliated Midwest and Great Plains colleges. Its repayment rate of 96.8% is exceptionally strong compared to peers -- Briar Cliff and Buena Vista both carry repayment rates in the 80-85% range. The completion rate of 70.1% is competitive in this peer group. Dordt's weakness is the 13.9-year payback, which reflects low median earnings relative to cost -- a common challenge across faith-affiliated liberal arts schools that maintain broad program breadth rather than concentrating in high-earning fields.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dordt University (this school) | 54 | $25,807 | $52,559 |
| St. Francis College | 57 | $18,129 | $58,099 |
| Southern Nazarene University | 55 | $22,084 | $54,951 |
| Trevecca Nazarene University | 51 | $16,813 | $49,378 |
| Briar Cliff University | 46 | $23,907 | $54,475 |
| Buena Vista University | 39 | $18,846 | $49,156 |
Who Thrives Here
Dordt admits 68.5% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 530-660 Math and 540-670 Reading, ACT composite 21-29. Enrollment of 1,597 is small for an Iowa institution, reflecting its deliberately regional, faith-rooted identity. The 20.2% Pell grant rate is modest -- Dordt primarily serves middle-income, Reformed Protestant families from the upper Midwest and the international Dutch Reformed diaspora. Students who want a tight-knit Christian community with an agricultural and engineering presence will find specific programs worth evaluating. Students seeking broad career optionality from a faith-based school face slow payback outside of nursing, finance, and accounting.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The financial case for Dordt University is mixed. At $25,807 per year net cost, graduates earn a median of $52,559 ten years after entry - a payback period of 13.9 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 a 70.1% graduation rate, high loan repayment success. However, the data also shows weak earnings relative to cost and a long payback period.
Median debt of $21,500 against $52,559 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.