Midland University
Fremont, Nebraska · Private Nonprofit · 66.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 38/100 · Poor Value
Midland University in Fremont, Nebraska, lands an ROI score of 38 out of 100, putting it in the Poor Value tier near the top of that band. The headline numbers: sticker tuition is $42,050, net price averages $26,267, four-year total cost is about $105,068, the six-year completion rate is 42.1%, median earnings at six years are $39,400 climbing to $52,163 by year ten, median debt is $26,134, and the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.663. The modeled payback period is 14.3 years. The brightest spot is the repayment sub-score: about 80% of borrowers are making progress at the three-year mark and 80% again at year seven, which is notably stronger than peers. The biggest drags are completion (42.1%) and the very small earnings premium (16.3% above a high school baseline). Midland is the kind of small private where students who do finish reach acceptable mid-career earnings, but the 58% non-completion rate is the central risk: borrowers who do not graduate are the ones whose financial outcomes look worst.
The data raises concerns about Midland 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.
Midland University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $42,050/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $42,050/yr |
| Average net price | $26,267/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $105,068 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $52,163 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $39,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,134 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $277 |
| Estimated payback period | 14.3 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 42.1% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,159 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Midland University is $42,050/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $26,267/year, or roughly $105,068 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $21,086/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $28,680/year.
The median graduate leaves with $26,134 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $277 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $52,163 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.66 - 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 | $21,086 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $22,445 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $23,055 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $28,289 |
| $110,001+ | $28,680 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 face a net price of $21,086 per year. That is about half off sticker but still totals roughly $84,000 over four years against $52,163 in ten-year median earnings. Pell-eligible students should always pressure-test the offer against the University of Nebraska at Kearney or Nebraska state colleges, where in-state net prices in this bracket are typically materially lower.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income brackets are roughly linear: $22,445 ($30,001-$48,000) and $23,055 ($48,001-$75,000), then a noticeable step up to $28,289 in the $75,001-$110,000 bracket. The difference between low- and middle-income brackets is smaller than at most privates, which suggests Midland's institutional aid leans more toward merit and athletics than steep need-based discounting.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Households above $110,000 pay $28,680 a year, or roughly $115,000 over four years. With median 10-year earnings of $52,163, the math works only for full-pay families willing to absorb the cost from savings, or for students entering high-leverage majors like nursing where program-level earnings of $74,515 in year one make the debt service comfortable.
Earnings by Major
Top 6 most popular majors at Midland University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Education, General | $46,695 | C |
| Registered Nursing | $77,272 | B |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $45,969 | D |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $41,149 | C |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management | $33,216 | - |
| Business Administration and Management | $64,469 | 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
Nursing is the strongest program by ROI, graduating 33 students per year with first-year earnings of $74,515 climbing to $77,272 by year four. Median program debt is $30,750, producing a 0.413 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B ROI grade. Nebraska's nursing shortage and the program's BSN credential give graduates immediate hireability in Omaha-area health systems including CHI Health, Methodist, and Nebraska Medicine. This is the single most defensible reason to choose Midland.
Education, General
Education graduates 45 students annually with $42,394 in first-year earnings and $46,695 by year four against $27,000 in median debt, yielding a 0.637 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C ROI grade. Nebraska teacher salaries are below the national median, so the cost-benefit only works at Midland's net price of $26,267 if students secure substantial institutional aid. Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility for teachers materially improves the long-run math.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice graduates 19 students with $41,149 in first-year earnings against $27,000 in median debt; four-year earnings are not reported. The 0.656 debt-to-earnings ratio and C ROI grade are typical for the field. The credential pairs naturally with state and federal law enforcement careers in Nebraska and Iowa, where the regional reputation of the school matters more than national rankings.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology graduates 25 per year with first-year earnings of $31,475 rising to $45,969 by year four. Median debt of $27,000 produces a 0.858 debt-to-earnings ratio and a D ROI grade. This is a structurally weak undergraduate credential financially; the math only improves with graduate work in physical therapy, occupational therapy, or athletic training. Students who plan to stop at the bachelor's face thin starting wages relative to the debt taken on.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 72.9% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 80.1% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 72.3% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 80.2% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 66.1% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 473-580 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 490-590 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 17-23 |
| Enrollment | 1,159 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 28.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,937 |
Midland admits 66.1% of applicants, which is broadly accessible but not open enrollment. Reported test ranges are SAT Math 473-580, SAT Reading 490-590, and ACT Composite 17-23. Those are below the national medians and consistent with the access-oriented mission. A 66% admit rate paired with a 42% six-year completion rate fits the typical pattern: the school accepts most academically prepared applicants and a meaningful share of marginal ones, and the completion gap shows up at the back end.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Peers in the CampusROI dataset include Bellevue University, Clarkson College, Geneva College, Our Lady of the Lake University, and Millikin University. These are small to mid-sized private institutions, several with strong professional program anchors. Clarkson College tends to outperform on ROI because of its health-professions concentration, while Geneva and Millikin are closer to Midland's profile. Within this peer set, Midland is middle-of-the-road, with its nursing pipeline and unusually strong repayment rates partly offsetting weak completion.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midland University (this school) | 38 | $26,267 | $52,163 |
| Clarkson College | 71 | $19,241 | $64,876 |
| Bellevue University | 65 | $17,550 | $61,289 |
| Geneva College | 38 | $25,890 | $50,004 |
| Millikin University | 37 | $21,989 | $51,262 |
| Our Lady of the Lake University | 35 | $16,442 | $48,675 |
Who Thrives Here
Midland enrolls about 1,159 students with a Pell Grant rate of 28.1%, sitting in a small-town Nebraska setting with a strong athletics and pre-professional orientation. The best fit is a Nebraska, Iowa, or upper-Midwest student headed for nursing, education, or a varsity sport, who qualifies for institutional merit and athletic aid and has a real plan to finish in four years. Given the 42.1% completion rate and 0.66 debt-to-earnings ratio, students unsure about persistence should compare carefully against Nebraska's public regionals or community-college transfer paths.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Midland University. With a net cost of $26,267 per year and median graduate earnings of only $52,163 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 14.3 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 42.1% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn and a long payback period.
Median debt of $26,134 against $52,163 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.