Jarvis Christian University
Hawkins, Texas · Private Nonprofit
ROI Score: 4/100 · Poor Value
Jarvis Christian University earns a 4 ROI score and a Poor Value tier rating -- among the lowest scores in our universe. The fundamentals are deeply concerning: median earnings six years out are just $22,800, climbing to $32,992 by year ten -- producing a negative -5.1 percent earnings premium relative to high-school-only earners. The model flags a 999-year payback period, meaning earnings never recoup costs. Sticker tuition is a relatively modest $11,720 with net price of $9,825, keeping four-year cost at $39,300 -- but the 1.184 debt-to-earnings ratio (median debt of $27,000 against earnings of $22,800) means typical graduates owe more than they make in a year. The 15.2 percent completion rate is the most damning data point: fewer than one in six students graduate. The 35.5 percent five-year repayment rate is similarly poor. Jarvis is a Historically Black, faith-affiliated school whose mission has substantial cultural value but whose current Scorecard outcomes warrant a serious cautionary tale for prospective students.
The data raises concerns about Jarvis Christian University
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score4/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Debt-to-earnings1.18 - Advisors recommend total student debt stay below one year of salary (ratio under 1.0).
- 6-year graduation rate15.2% - Well below the 60% national average. Non-completion is the fastest route to negative ROI.
- Payback period>50 years - Graduates earn at or near the level of high school completers — the cost may not recoup within a working career.
Jarvis Christian University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $11,720/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $11,720/yr |
| Average net price | $9,825/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $39,300 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $32,992 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $22,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | >50 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 15.2% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 577 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Jarvis Christian University is $11,720/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $9,825/year, or roughly $39,300 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $11,606/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $14,877/year.
The median graduate leaves with $27,000 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $286 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $32,992 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 1.18 - above the recommended threshold where total debt should not exceed first-year salary.
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 | $11,606 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $6,276 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $5,364 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $5,540 |
| $110,001+ | $14,877 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Lowest-income families pay $11,606 net annually -- notably higher than the $30,001-$48,000 bracket ($6,276) and substantially higher than $48,001-$75,000 ($5,364). This is a sharply inverted bracket structure, suggesting institutional aid is concentrated in middle-income tiers rather than at the lowest income band. Pell-eligible families face the highest net cost on campus, which is a financial-aid policy worth flagging.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income brackets pay $6,276 ($30K-$48K), $5,364 ($48K-$75K), and $5,540 ($75K-$110K) -- remarkably low net prices, well below what most public regionals charge. The financial-aid math here clearly favors middle-income families. However, the school's chronic completion and earnings problems mean even at low net cost, the cost-to-outcome math remains weak unless a student persists to graduation.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income families pay $14,877 net annually -- a sharp jump above middle-income tiers and roughly $60,000 over four years. Combined with median 10-year earnings of $32,992 and the 999-year payback flag, the financial recommendation for full-pay families is exceptionally cautious. Wealthier families with HBCU preferences should look at Texas Southern, Prairie View A&M, or Howard.
Earnings by Major
Top 2 most popular majors at Jarvis Christian University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $36,576 | F |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $48,225 | 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.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is Jarvis Christian's largest program with 26 graduates, posting first-year earnings of $34,996 climbing to $48,225 by year four. Median debt of $39,249 against those earnings produces a punishing 1.122 debt-to-earnings ratio and an F ROI grade. The earnings trajectory is actually reasonable for this kind of small private; the problem is the heavy program-level debt. Students should aggressively minimize borrowing and target career pathways into Texas regional employers.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology graduates 34 students with first-year earnings of $25,621 climbing to $36,576 by year four. Median debt of $27,000 yields a 1.054 debt-to-earnings ratio and an F ROI grade. Most strong career paths in kinesiology require graduate study (PT, OT, athletic training); without that pathway, the bachelor's struggles to recoup the cost. Students should plan their full education trajectory rather than treating the bachelor's as terminal.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 23.6% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 35.5% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 26.8% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 33.6% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Enrollment | 577 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 58.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,267 |
Admission rate is not reported in current Scorecard data for Jarvis Christian, consistent with an open-enrollment policy where most applicants are accepted. SAT and ACT data are also unreported. The 15.2 percent completion rate -- the dominant operational data point -- signals severe structural retention challenges that prospective students need to understand clearly before enrolling. Most enrollees do not finish their degree.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Jarvis Christian's nearest peers include Allen University -- another Historically Black faith-affiliated school -- alongside Arlington Baptist University, East-West University, and Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez. Abilene Christian University is a much larger and stronger Texas Christian school in the peer set. Within this cluster, Jarvis Christian's 4 ROI score is among the very weakest. Students considering an HBCU experience should look at significantly stronger options like Howard, Spelman, Tennessee State, or Florida A&M.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jarvis Christian University (this school) | 4 | $9,825 | $32,992 |
| Alabama State University | 5 | $20,435 | $34,502 |
| Livingstone College | 4 | $13,479 | $32,600 |
| Shaw University | 4 | $16,512 | $34,409 |
| Central State University | 4 | $13,096 | $33,267 |
| Benedict College | 4 | $18,250 | $31,902 |
Who Thrives Here
Jarvis Christian fits students with a deep cultural or denominational connection to the school and an explicit understanding of the steep retention and earnings risks. Enrollment is tiny at 577 undergraduates, and Pell rate runs 58.8 percent -- one of the highest in our universe, indicating a heavily working-class and Pell-eligible student body. Students should walk in with a clear academic plan and a financial backup strategy, since most enrollees historically have not completed their degree.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Jarvis Christian University. With a net cost of $9,825 per year and median graduate earnings of only $32,992 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds >50 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 15.2% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $27,000 against $32,992 in earnings is concerning. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.82 exceeds the commonly recommended threshold. Major choice is critical here.
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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.