Evangel University
Springfield, Missouri · Private Nonprofit · 71.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 35/100 · Poor Value
Evangel University lands in the Poor Value tier with an overall ROI score of 35 out of 100. The numbers tell a familiar mission-college story: completion is reasonable at 65%, sticker tuition is $28,548, and the average net price drops to $18,669 with institutional aid - producing a $74,676 four-year total cost. But median earnings come in at just $32,800 six years out, climbing to $46,573 at ten years, generating only a 15.5% earnings premium and an 18.5-year payback period. Median debt is $24,736 - producing a 0.754 debt-to-earnings ratio, one of the weakest sub-scores on the report. The repayment rate is 69.6% at one year, climbing to 81.2% at year seven, showing borrowers eventually stabilize but struggle in the early career. The driver here is the program mix: Evangel is an Assemblies of God school where Ministry, Teacher Education, Religion, and Psychology dominate enrollment, and these are structurally lower-earning fields. Students who pick Nursing or Business see dramatically better outcomes than the school average - the school median is essentially the weighted result of low-earning ministry tracks dragging down strong nursing earnings. Worth running the program-level math before reading the headline score.
The data raises concerns about Evangel University
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score35/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Payback period18.5 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Evangel University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $28,548/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $28,548/yr |
| Average net price | $18,669/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $74,676 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $46,573 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $32,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,736 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $262 |
| Estimated payback period | 18.5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 65.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,229 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Evangel University is $28,548/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $18,669/year, or roughly $74,676 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $16,198/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $21,290/year.
The median graduate leaves with $24,736 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $262 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $46,573 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.75 - 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 | $16,198 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $13,584 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $16,635 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $19,210 |
| $110,001+ | $21,290 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning $0-30,000 pay $16,198, and the $30,001-48,000 bracket pays even less at $13,584 - a notable inversion where mid-low income gets the best aid. The pattern is common at need-aware privates when the very lowest income tier has lower family contribution expectations that institutional aid cannot fully bridge. Four-year cost of $54,000-65,000 against $32,800 in early earnings is workable only for students in Nursing or Business.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-75,000 bracket pays $16,635 and $75,001-110,000 pays $19,210. Aid tapers steadily. Total four-year cost runs $66,000-77,000 against $46,573 in ten-year earnings - tight, but manageable for graduates landing in higher-earning majors.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $21,290 per year - $85,160 over four years. For full-pay families, the question is whether the AG faith environment justifies the premium over Missouri State (located in the same Springfield market) or other Missouri publics where outcomes are stronger and costs lower. The case is strongest for students with concrete ministry or AG-network career intentions.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Evangel University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $55,483 | C |
| Teacher Education | $38,614 | D |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $43,968 | D |
| Psychology | $35,914 | F |
| Registered Nursing | $61,176 | - |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $45,034 | - |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $47,415 | D |
| Marketing | $56,063 | D |
| Religion/Religious Studies | $46,205 | F |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $36,585 | - |
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
Sixteen graduates with one-year earnings of $64,005 - nearly double the school median. Four-year earnings of $61,176 reflect typical RN salary compression (the field pays well from day one but grows slowly without specialization). Median debt is not reported. This is Evangel's strongest documented financial outcome and the clearest pathway for students to convert the Evangel experience into solid post-grad earnings.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Thirty-two graduates - the largest non-ministry program - with one-year earnings of $41,610 climbing to $55,483 at four years. Median debt of $26,000 produces a 0.625 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C grade. The 33% earnings recovery in three years is healthy. Business graduates head into Springfield-area employers and AG-network organizations across the country.
Teacher Education
Twenty-seven graduates with one-year earnings of $36,005 and four-year of just $38,614 - a flat curve typical of teacher pay scales. Median debt of $27,000 produces a 0.75 debt-to-earnings ratio and a D grade. Most graduates teach in Missouri public schools or Christian schools nationwide; salary growth is incremental. Public Service Loan Forgiveness can materially improve the long-term math for graduates teaching in qualifying schools.
Teacher Education, Subject-Specific
Another 27 graduates with similar pattern - one-year earnings $34,872, four-year $43,968. Median debt is the highest on the list at $30,175, producing a 0.865 debt-to-earnings ratio and a D grade. The combination of high debt and teacher-pay-scale earnings is challenging without PSLF.
Psychology
Twenty-one graduates with one-year earnings of $25,512 and four-year of $35,914 - the weakest non-ministry outcome. Median debt of $25,500 produces a 1.0 debt-to-earnings ratio and an F grade. Standard bachelor's-only psychology problem amplified by Evangel's cost structure. Students should plan for graduate work or a clear ministry-counseling path (Evangel has a strong pastoral counseling program) to make this major financially defensible.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 69.6% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 73.6% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 73.7% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 81.2% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 71.6% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 500-620 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 540-640 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 21-27 |
| Enrollment | 1,229 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 31.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $5,330 |
Evangel admits 71.6% of applicants, with SAT mid-ranges of 500-620 math and 540-640 reading, and ACT composite of 21-27. Those academic bands are slightly above the regional-private average and consistent with the 65% completion rate. The admit rate reflects a self-selecting Pentecostal/Assemblies of God applicant pool where many students choose Evangel specifically for the faith environment regardless of where else they could attend.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Federal peers are Avila University (Kansas City, MO), Mission University, Our Lady of the Lake University (TX), University of Pikeville (KY), and Geneva College (PA). Geneva is the closest natural peer - a small Reformed Presbyterian college with a similar academic profile and ministry-heavy enrollment. Our Lady of the Lake is a Hispanic-serving Catholic in Texas. Evangel's 65% completion is competitive within this peer set, and its 81% seven-year repayment is mid-to-upper pack. Among faith-affiliated regional privates, Evangel sits in the middle on outcomes and on the moderate end on cost.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evangel University (this school) | 35 | $18,669 | $46,573 |
| Rocky Mountain College | 35 | $19,751 | $49,036 |
| Corban University | 35 | $28,035 | $48,917 |
| Colorado Christian University | 34 | $29,500 | $50,416 |
| William Carey University | 34 | $14,258 | $43,087 |
| Lancaster Bible College | 34 | $25,480 | $44,096 |
Who Thrives Here
Small Pentecostal/Assemblies of God university with 1,229 students in Springfield, Missouri. Pell rate is 31% - working-to-middle-class student body. It fits students who specifically want an Assemblies of God-affiliated education, who plan ministry or missions work, or who want a tight Christian residential community. Strongest documented outcomes are in Registered Nursing (16 grads, $64,005 starting earnings) and Business Administration (32 grads, $41,610 to $55,483 four-year). Students pursuing teaching, ministry, or general liberal-arts paths face weaker financial outcomes and should be intentional about post-grad plans.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Evangel University. With a net cost of $18,669 per year and median graduate earnings of only $46,573 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 18.5 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and high debt relative to what graduates earn and a long payback period.
Median debt of $24,736 against $46,573 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.