Eastern Mennonite University
Harrisonburg, Virginia · Private Nonprofit · 100.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 53/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Eastern Mennonite University, a small Mennonite Church USA-affiliated private nonprofit in Harrisonburg, Virginia, posts a Below Average Value ROI score of 53/100. The picture is mixed but moves in the right direction: completion rate of 67%, an 87.5% repayment rate, median debt of $24,813, and a 12-year payback period. Tuition is $43,920 with a net price of $24,588 after generous institutional aid - a 44% discount - and four-year all-in lands at $98,352. Average earnings six years after entry are $38,400, climbing to a median $54,869 at ten years. Debt-to-earnings is 0.646. The 20.2% earnings premium over high-school grads is modest. The story: EMU does a good job retaining and graduating students, and its alumni are reliable about repaying loans. The nursing program is the financial anchor, and the institution's Mennonite peace-and-service mission shapes both program selection and student career choices.
Eastern Mennonite University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $43,920/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $43,920/yr |
| Average net price | $24,588/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $98,352 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $54,869 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $38,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,813 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $263 |
| Estimated payback period | 12 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 67.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 754 |
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: $43,920/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $24,588/year, or roughly $98,352 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 $22,994/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $29,315/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $24,813, which works out to about $263 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($38,400) and comes to 0.65, 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 | $22,994 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $20,333 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $20,454 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $27,570 |
| $110,001+ | $29,315 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $22,994 per year net. The $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $20,333 - actually less than the lowest bracket, a minor inversion likely reflecting Pell+state-grant stacking. Four-year cost for these brackets runs $81,000-$92,000.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $20,454, then jumps to $27,570 for $75,001-$110,000 - a meaningful step. Four-year cost is $82,000-$110,000. The sharp middle-bracket jump means a family at $80,000 income pays nearly 35% more per year than one at $70,000.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $29,315 per year, still meaningfully below sticker. Four-year cost is $117,260.
Earnings by Major
Top 3 most popular majors at Eastern Mennonite University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $81,610 | B |
| Human Resources Management | $60,136 | B+ |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $53,229 | C |
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 the financial anchor at EMU: 53 graduates earning $73,478 first-year and $81,610 at four years, with $28,979 median debt and a 0.394 debt-to-earnings ratio - a B ROI grade. The program is the clearest financial bet on campus.
Human Resources Management
HR management (23 grads) earns $60,136 first-year with $18,555 median debt and a 0.309 debt-to-earnings ratio - a B+ ROI grade, the strongest at EMU. The low debt load combined with solid starting pay produces a clean financial case. A quiet standout program worth more attention.
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Liberal arts (22 grads) earns $46,585 first-year and $53,229 at four years, with $27,000 debt and a 0.58 debt-to-earnings ratio - a C ROI grade. The flat four-year curve is typical of liberal-arts graduates who do not pursue further specialized credentialing. Many EMU LAS grads go into ministry, nonprofit work, or graduate study - the financial picture is reasonable but not standout.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 85.0% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 87.5% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 84.3% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 89.3% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Eastern Mennonite 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 | 100.0% |
| Enrollment | 754 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 32.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,452 |
EMU admits 100% of applicants - fully open-admission. SAT and ACT mid-ranges are not reported in current Scorecard data, consistent with a test-optional posture. The open-access posture combined with a 67% completion rate is unusually strong. EMU's small scale and community-driven model appear to support persistence effectively.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Mennonite University (this school) | 53 | $24,588 | $54,869 |
| Bryan College-Dayton | 54 | $20,614 | $54,434 |
| Union University | 52 | $27,171 | $53,990 |
| San Diego Christian College | 51 | $992 | $49,766 |
| Messiah University | 51 | $26,502 | $54,064 |
| Trevecca Nazarene University | 51 | $16,813 | $49,378 |
Who Thrives Here
EMU enrolls 754 students with a 32.7% Pell rate. The fit is strongest for students from Mennonite or Anabaptist traditions, or those drawn to the peace-and-justice, restorative-justice, or international-service orientation that distinguishes EMU's curriculum. The nursing program also draws students from broader regional Virginia.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Eastern Mennonite University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $24,588 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $54,869 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 it has going for it: high loan repayment success. What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65 (median across the schools we score: 0.61).
Median debt of $24,813 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $38,400 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Eastern Mennonite University: Common Questions
Is Eastern Mennonite University worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Eastern Mennonite University scores 53/100 on our ROI scale. At $24,588 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $54,869 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 Eastern Mennonite 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 $24,588 a year, or roughly $98,352 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 Eastern Mennonite University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $54,869 ten years after enrolling, roughly $13,069 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 Eastern Mennonite 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 Eastern Mennonite University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Eastern Mennonite University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $24,813, against average earnings of $38,400 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Eastern Mennonite University?
The six-year graduation rate is 67.0%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (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.