High Point University
High Point, North Carolina · Private Nonprofit · 75.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 50/100 · Below Average Value
High Point University earns a Below Average Value tier with an overall ROI score of 50 out of 100, reflecting the classic high-amenity private college tradeoff: strong completion (sub-score 84) but high cost. Tuition is $45,312 per year, the average net price is $38,707, and the four-year total cost lands at a hefty $154,828 -- among the highest in our database. Median 10-year earnings are $61,389, a 17% premium over high school graduates, and the payback period of 11.2 years is reasonable. Median debt of $24,575 is actually moderate (the school's notable amenity-heavy approach is largely funded by family contributions rather than student loans), producing a 0.647 debt-to-earnings ratio. The 73.7% completion rate is genuinely strong -- HPU is well known for student support, extensive advising, and a polished campus experience that retains students. The 75.1% three-year repayment rate is solid. The challenge is purely on the cost side: HPU's cost structure assumes families can pay substantial sticker prices, and the 11.9% Pell rate confirms this is primarily an upper-middle-income school. The 17% earnings premium does not justify the cost for most families.
High Point University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $45,312/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $45,312/yr |
| Average net price | $38,707/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $154,828 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $61,389 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $38,000 |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,575 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $261 |
| Estimated payback period | 11.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 73.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 5,129 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at High Point University is $45,312/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $38,707/year, or roughly $154,828 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $32,763/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $41,994/year.
The median graduate leaves with $24,575 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $261 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $61,389 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.65 - 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 | $32,763 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $31,937 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $32,461 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $35,508 |
| $110,001+ | $41,994 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $32,763 per year, while $30,001-$48,000 pays slightly less ($31,937) -- a mild inversion. Over four years that's roughly $128,000-$131,000. With only an 11.9% Pell rate, HPU is effectively not enrolling many low-income families, and the cost structure makes attendance very difficult for those that do consider it.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-$75,000) pay $32,461 per year, while $75,001-$110,000 pays $35,508. Over four years that's $130,000-$142,000. This is a tough financial commitment that requires confidence in the student's career trajectory; UNC-Chapel Hill or NC State offer dramatically better cost math for North Carolina middle-income families.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning above $110,000 pay $41,994 per year (the highest published bracket), or roughly $168,000 over four years. At this near-sticker price HPU's value proposition becomes a fit-and-experience choice rather than a financial one. For families who can absorb the cost without strain and value the polished campus experience, HPU is a defensible pick; for purely ROI-driven decisions, NC State or UNC offer dramatically better math.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at High Point University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Design and Applied Arts | $61,635 | - |
| Marketing | $69,721 | - |
| Psychology | $56,712 | - |
| Biology | $67,184 | - |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $65,607 | - |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $50,007 | - |
| International Business | $74,953 | - |
| International Relations | $72,564 | - |
| Accounting | $99,053 | - |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $62,467 | - |
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.
Design and Applied Arts
Design and Applied Arts is HPU's largest reportable program at 76 graduates per year. Median four-year earnings of $61,635 are decent for design careers, particularly given HPU's strong Carolina business-network connections. Debt and first-year earnings data are not reported, which limits the ROI grade. With HPU's polished design facilities and corporate-recruiter relationships, this program likely produces better outcomes than typical small-school art programs, though the heavy net price still makes the math challenging.
Marketing
Marketing graduates 63 students per year. Four-year earnings of $69,721 are competitive for the Carolina business labor market. Debt and first-year earnings data are not reported, but given the Pell rate of 11.9% and HPU's modest median debt, marketing graduates likely emerge with manageable loan loads relative to peers. This is one of HPU's defensible value plays for upper-middle-income families.
Psychology
Psychology graduates 61 students per year with four-year earnings of $56,712. Debt and first-year earnings data are not reported. As with most psychology bachelor's, the credential alone produces modest outcomes; students should plan for graduate school. HPU's heavy net price makes this a tough major to pursue without family financial support given the post-bachelor's earnings ceiling.
Biology
Biology graduates 58 students per year with four-year earnings of $67,184 -- a relatively strong figure for biology bachelor's, suggesting many HPU bio graduates progress to professional school (medical, dental, PA) and the four-year data captures some of that uplift. Debt and first-year earnings data are not reported. Pre-health students who execute on graduate school plans can capture real value here; otherwise the bachelor's alone is weak.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice graduates 45 students per year with four-year earnings of $65,607 -- a notably strong figure for the discipline, likely capturing federal law enforcement and corporate security roles where HPU's network may help. Debt and first-year earnings data are not reported. This is a stronger criminal justice outcome than typical, but the underlying cost structure remains heavy.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 66.7% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 75.1% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 69.1% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 66.1% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 75.3% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 550-650 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 560-670 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 24-33 |
| Enrollment | 5,129 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 11.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,147 |
HPU admits 75.3% of applicants, a moderately selective profile. SAT mid-ranges (Math 550-650, Reading 560-670) and ACT (24-33) reflect a student body that's solidly above average academically but not at flagship-public level. The combination of moderate selectivity and a 73.7% completion rate is healthy and consistent -- HPU admits prepared students and gets most of them across the finish line. The 11.9% Pell rate signals very limited socioeconomic diversity; this is a school primarily serving upper-middle-class families.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
HPU's named peers include Barton College, Belmont Abbey College, Park University, Biola University, and Wilmington University. Among these, Biola is roughly comparable in scale and outcomes; the others are smaller and post weaker overall ROI. HPU's 50 score sits at or slightly above the median of this peer band, primarily because of the strong completion rate. North Carolina families considering HPU should also benchmark against UNC-Chapel Hill, NC State, and UNC-Greensboro -- those publics offer dramatically better cost math with comparable or better academic outcomes.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Point University (this school) | 50 | $38,707 | $61,389 |
| Wilmington University | 51 | $15,644 | $53,844 |
| Biola University | 50 | $31,495 | $56,778 |
| Park University | 50 | $21,032 | $56,309 |
| Barton College | 24 | $23,626 | $47,913 |
| Belmont Abbey College | 24 | $24,639 | $47,937 |
Who Thrives Here
HPU fits upper-middle-class students drawn to a polished, high-amenity, hospitality-style college experience -- the 'Disney-fication' of higher education that HPU has explicitly cultivated. Enrollment is 5,129, the Pell rate is just 11.9% (very low), and the campus-life-as-product approach generates strong student satisfaction. The strongest fit: students from families who can absorb the heavy net price without significant loans, targeting Business, Marketing, or pre-professional tracks. Weak fit: families relying on need-based aid (HPU's curve is not generous to lower brackets) or students focused purely on financial outcomes -- the math at sticker prices does not work versus North Carolina publics.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The financial case for High Point University is mixed. At $38,707 per year net cost, graduates earn a median of $61,389 ten years after entry - a payback period of 11.2 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 73.7% graduation rate. However, the data also shows weak earnings relative to cost and high debt relative to what graduates earn.
Median debt of $24,575 against $61,389 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
New analyses, updated school profiles, and tools - when there’s something worth acting on.
Rankings & Links
Guides & Tools
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.