MidAmerica Nazarene University
Olathe, Kansas · Private Nonprofit · 78.8% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 62/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
MidAmerica Nazarene University scores 62 (Fair Value). The 53.6% completion rate is weak - fewer than 6 in 10 students finish within 6 years. Repayment rates are reasonable at 78.5%, suggesting those who do complete are generally managing debt, but the high dropout rate undermines the overall picture.
MidAmerica Nazarene University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $37,174/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $37,174/yr |
| Average net price | $32,165/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $128,660 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $62,972 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $45,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $15,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $159 |
| Estimated payback period | 9.6 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 53.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 983 |
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: $37,174/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $32,165/year, or roughly $128,660 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 $28,842/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $37,571/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $15,000, which works out to about $159 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($45,700) and comes to 0.33, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
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 | $28,842 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $27,294 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $30,183 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $31,398 |
| $110,001+ | $37,571 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The lowest income bracket (0-$30,000) pays $28,842 per year at MNU - a striking figure that suggests the school's aid packaging leaves low-income students exposed to very high costs. This is a significant concern: a 53.6% completion rate combined with $28,842 annual cost creates real risk of debt without a degree for low-income students.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families in the $48,001-75,000 range pay $30,183 per year, and the $75,001-110,000 band pays $31,398. These figures are nearly identical to the lower brackets, indicating MNU's aid structure is relatively flat across income ranges. Middle-income families considering MNU should scrutinize whether the faith-community benefit justifies a 4-year total cost that approaches $120,000-$125,000.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $37,571 per year - essentially approaching sticker price. At a 9.6-year payback period, the full-pay case requires careful program selection. Nursing graduates at MNU can justify the cost; general business or liberal arts graduates will struggle to build a financial case for the price.
Earnings by Major
Top 4 most popular majors at MidAmerica Nazarene University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $78,299 | B |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $64,377 | B |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $55,535 | - |
| Teacher Education | $47,730 | 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
Registered Nursing is MNU's volume leader at 149 graduates and the strongest-performing program in the catalog: $66,608 year-one earnings, $78,299 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.400 (ROI grade B). Year-one earnings in the mid-$60s for nursing graduates in the Kansas City metro are competitive, and the program produces real job outcomes.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration graduates 39 students with $58,494 year-one earnings and $64,377 at year four. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.406 (ROI grade B) is marginal - median debt of $23,726 against $58k year-one is manageable but not comfortable. Year-four earnings of $64k are in line with Midwest regional business markets.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education graduates 14 students with $40,676 year-one earnings and $47,730 at year four.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 71.8% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 78.5% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 72.1% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 77.0% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How MidAmerica Nazarene 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 | 78.8% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 490-550 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 460-540 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 17-23 |
| Enrollment | 983 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 31.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,477 |
Test scores are collected but clearly not the primary admissions filter; students applying here are largely self-selected by mission fit rather than academic competition.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| MidAmerica Nazarene University (this school) | 62 | $32,165 | $62,972 |
| Baker University | 65 | $25,301 | $63,855 |
| AdventHealth University | 63 | $30,135 | $72,282 |
| Walla Walla University | 62 | $23,329 | $61,885 |
| Marietta College | 60 | $21,083 | $57,180 |
| Benedictine College | 45 | $27,891 | $53,175 |
Who Thrives Here
MNU admits 78.8% of applicants, placing it in the accessible range. The student body is small at 983 enrolled, and the faith-based environment shapes campus culture significantly. This school fits students who prioritize Christian community, ministry-adjacent programs, and small class sizes. Students focused on maximizing financial return should look carefully at the numbers: the payback period of 9.6 years and completion rate of 53.6% present real risk.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
MidAmerica Nazarene University is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $32,165 a year after aid ($128,660 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $62,972 a decade out, the cost takes about 9.6 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: manageable debt relative to earnings.
Median debt of $15,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $45,700 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.33, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
MidAmerica Nazarene University: Common Questions
Is MidAmerica Nazarene University worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether MidAmerica Nazarene University is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 62/100 on our ROI scale. At $32,165 a year after aid ($128,660 over four years) against $62,972 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 9.6 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does MidAmerica Nazarene 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 $32,165 a year, or roughly $128,660 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 MidAmerica Nazarene University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $62,972 ten years after enrolling, roughly $21,172 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 MidAmerica Nazarene 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 9.6 years for MidAmerica Nazarene University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do MidAmerica Nazarene University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $15,000, against average earnings of $45,700 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.33. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at MidAmerica Nazarene University?
The six-year graduation rate is 53.6%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (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.