Huntington University
Huntington, Indiana · Private Nonprofit · 75.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 38/100 · Poor Value
Huntington University, a small Christian university in northeast Indiana, scores 38 in the Poor Value tier. The cost-side is reasonable for a private nonprofit: $31,870 sticker tuition discounts to a $19,310 net price (a 39% institutional discount), totaling $77,240 over four years. The repayment rate is exceptional -- 88.9% three-year repayment puts Huntington in the top quintile nationwide, suggesting graduates either earn enough to service debt or come from family backgrounds that support repayment. Completion at 63.6% is also above the small-private median. So why the low ROI score? The earnings side. Median earnings of $32,600 at six years and only $46,672 at ten -- a slow ramp typical of small Christian colleges in rural Midwest settings -- combine with $25,576 of debt to produce a 0.785 debt-to-earnings ratio and an 18.6-year payback period. The school's strengths are mission-driven and community-focused; the data reflects a graduate body that tends toward ministry, education, social services, and other lower-paid but stable callings. Huntington works for students who specifically value the Christian college experience and are not optimizing on financial outcomes.
The data raises concerns about Huntington University
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score38/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Payback period18.6 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Huntington University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $31,870/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $31,870/yr |
| Average net price | $19,310/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $77,240 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $46,672 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $32,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,576 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $271 |
| Estimated payback period | 18.6 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 63.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,082 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Huntington University is $31,870/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $19,310/year, or roughly $77,240 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $10,796/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $27,226/year.
The median graduate leaves with $25,576 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $271 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $46,672 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.79 - 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 | $10,796 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $13,006 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $14,899 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $23,155 |
| $110,001+ | $27,226 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay just $10,796 net per year -- the most generous low-income aid package among the brackets. With Pell stacking, the actual out-of-pocket can be very low. The four-year total of $43K for a low-income family is competitive with state public options and represents Huntington's strongest value play. Combined with the 63.6% completion rate, this bracket gets the best deal at Huntington.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Brackets behave normally: $30,001-$48,000 pays $13,006, $48,001-$75,000 pays $14,899, $75,001-$110,000 jumps to $23,155 (a steep cliff). Middle-income families up to $75K get reasonable deals; the $75-110K bracket faces a sudden $8K jump that erases much of the value. Families in this middle band should compare hard against Indiana publics (IU, Purdue, Ball State) where in-state tuition runs $11K.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,001+ pay $27,226 -- close to full freight. At $109K over four years for $32,600 six-year median earnings, the math is poor on a financial-only basis. High-income families considering Huntington are typically choosing the religious community over financial value; for those families, the school delivers what it's selling, even if the ROI scoreboard doesn't reflect it.
Earnings by Major
Top 5 most popular majors at Huntington University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $46,073 | D |
| Registered Nursing | $71,310 | B |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $59,538 | - |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $48,400 | - |
| Graphic Communications | $34,787 | F |
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 Huntington's strongest ROI program by far: 20 graduates with $71,934 first-year earnings (slightly higher than $71,310 four-year, a small Scorecard quirk) against $31,000 median debt -- a 0.431 ratio and B grade. Indiana's healthcare labor market (Parkview Health, Lutheran Health Network in Fort Wayne, plus Indianapolis-area employers) absorbs BSN graduates at strong starting pay. The cost-outcome math works decisively here. For students focused on a nursing career within the Christian college framework, Huntington is a credible choice.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business graduates 19 students per year with $59,538 four-year earnings (first-year not reported, debt and ratio also missing). The four-year earnings figure is solid for a small Midwest Christian college -- graduates feed into Indiana's diversified economy (manufacturing, healthcare admin, financial services). Without complete debt data the ratio cannot be calculated, but assuming typical $25K debt the math would land in C territory. A reasonable program for the right student.
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
Film/Video (26 graduates -- the largest program reported) shows $27,455 first-year and $46,073 four-year earnings against $26,996 debt -- a 0.983 ratio and D grade. Huntington's film program is genuinely well-regarded within Christian higher ed and has produced graduates who work on faith-based film projects. But the labor market for film/video work pays poorly outside major coastal markets, and the debt-to-earnings ratio reflects that reality. Students entering this program should be clear-eyed about the financial trade-off they're making for the artistic and ministry training.
Graphic Communications
Graphic Communications (10 graduates) shows $16,522 first-year and $34,787 four-year earnings against $27,000 debt -- a brutal 1.634 ratio and F grade. The first-year number is among the lowest in any program at any school, suggesting many graduates are working in unrelated jobs. The graphic-design field has been pressured by self-taught and bootcamp talent for a decade, and a $77K education for a credential that yields $17K starting earnings does not pencil. Students should consider this program only with realistic backup paths.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 86.4% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 88.9% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 82.9% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 84.1% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 75.6% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 460-570 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 470-580 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 18-26 |
| Enrollment | 1,082 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 27.4% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,692 |
Huntington admits 75.6% of applicants with SAT mid-50% bands of Math 460-570 and Reading 470-580, plus ACT 18-26. The bands describe a student body of average academic preparation typical of regional Christian colleges. The 63.6% completion rate is solid for this profile, suggesting the school's residential mission community provides retention support that exceeds what raw test scores would predict. Students who arrive committed to the Christian college experience tend to finish.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Among peers, Huntington tracks closely with Anderson University (Indiana) -- another small Indiana Christian college with comparable price and outcomes. Bethel University Indiana posts similar numbers; both face the same structural earnings limitation that Christian-college graduates often choose service-oriented careers. Geneva College in Pennsylvania runs a similar profile. Southwestern College and Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) are different denominationally but share the small-private faith-based model. Within this peer cohort, Huntington's strong repayment rate is genuinely distinctive -- borrowers actually pay their loans, even if earnings ramp slowly. That's a meaningful signal of institutional culture even if it doesn't move the topline ROI score.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntington University (this school) | 38 | $19,310 | $46,672 |
| Palm Beach Atlantic University | 39 | $28,354 | $49,232 |
| Carson-Newman University | 39 | $20,251 | $48,382 |
| Houghton University | 38 | $20,519 | $46,721 |
| Wayland Baptist University | 38 | $20,590 | $51,838 |
| Cornerstone University | 37 | $20,301 | $47,314 |
Who Thrives Here
Huntington fits Indiana and Midwest Christian students who specifically want a small residential evangelical college experience and value the United Brethren in Christ heritage. Enrollment of 1,082 with a 27.4% Pell rate (lower than typical regional privates) skews more middle-class than working-class. Outcomes look strongest for nursing graduates ($71K first-year) and acceptable for business graduates. The film/video and graphic communications programs deliver weak ROI. Students should pick programs intentionally and ask about specific employment pipelines, especially in the strong nursing program.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Huntington University. With a net cost of $19,310 per year and median graduate earnings of only $46,672 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 18.6 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Key strengths include high loan repayment success. However, the data also shows weak earnings relative to cost and high debt relative to what graduates earn and a long payback period.
Median debt of $25,576 against $46,672 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.