Nelson University
Waxahachie, Texas · Private Nonprofit · 89.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 23/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Nelson University (formerly Southwestern Assemblies of God University) in Waxahachie, Texas scores 23 (Below Benchmark) on the CampusROI scale - a score driven by a 20.2-year payback period, a 41.6% completion rate, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.813, and weak earnings premium (0.130). The repayment rate at the 5-year mark is 55.2%, meaning nearly half of borrowers have made no net progress on their loans. The program catalog is dominated by ministry, biblical studies, and pastoral counseling tracks that produce D-grade ROI at best: Pastoral Counseling (57 graduates, $30,910 year-one, D grade), Bible/Biblical Studies (15 graduates, $33,918 year-one, D grade). Business Administration (32 graduates, $35,482 year-one, D grade) and Liberal Arts (40 graduates, $34,800 year-one, D grade) are the largest secular programs, both with weak ROI. The institutional mission is distinctly vocational-Christian, and for graduates pursuing ministry careers, earnings-based ROI metrics are an incomplete picture. But for students weighing this institution primarily on financial grounds, the data presents serious concerns.
How Nelson University scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- ROI Score23/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- Payback period20.2 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Nelson University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $25,064/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $25,064/yr |
| Average net price | $21,662/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $86,648 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $46,238 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $30,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,725 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $262 |
| Estimated payback period | 20.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 41.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,479 |
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: $25,064/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $21,662/year, or roughly $86,648 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 $17,583/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $25,474/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $24,725, which works out to about $262 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($30,400) and comes to 0.81, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
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 | $17,583 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $18,396 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $21,731 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $23,883 |
| $110,001+ | $25,474 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 bracket pays $17,583 per year at Nelson - $70,332 over four years if completed on schedule, but only 41.6% of students complete. Low-income students face the highest relative risk: borrowing at the median $24,725 with a $30,400 earnings outcome means debt service consumes a large fraction of early-career income. The 5-year repayment rate of 55.2% confirms many borrowers are not making progress.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $21,731 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $23,883. Middle-income families effectively pay near-net-price with limited aid. At $21,731-$23,883 per year and $30,400 average 6-year earnings, the financial arithmetic is unfavorable unless the student is committed to a specific calling that this institution uniquely serves.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The 110001-plus bracket pays $25,474 - nearly the full net price. For high-income families with deep faith commitments choosing this institution specifically for its Pentecostal environment, the financial return is secondary.
Earnings by Major
Top 7 most popular majors at Nelson University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries | $39,707 | D |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $47,277 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $52,229 | D |
| Bible/Biblical Studies | $43,808 | D |
| Marketing | $66,477 | - |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $43,110 | - |
| Education, General | $50,491 | 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.
Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries
Pastoral Counseling is Nelson's largest program at 57 graduates and earns a D grade: $30,910 year-one, $39,707 year-four, debt-to-earnings 0.865 with $26,750 median debt. Graduates entering ministry roles - associate pastors, youth ministers, chaplains - face a labor market where compensation varies widely by congregation size and denominational structure. The Scorecard earnings reflect the reality that ministry compensation is modest at the entry level.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (32 graduates) is Nelson's largest secular program and earns a D grade: $35,482 year-one, $52,229 year-four, debt-to-earnings 0.761 with $27,000 median debt. The 4-year trajectory to $52k is modest.
Bible/Biblical Studies
Bible/Biblical Studies (15 graduates) earns a D grade: $33,918 year-one, $43,808 year-four, debt-to-earnings 0.910 with $30,875 median debt. The debt load is the highest among Nelson's reported programs. Year-one earnings suggest entry into ministry or education roles. Students in this program typically continue to graduate theological education for senior ministry positions, which extends total education cost significantly.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 62.1% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 66.2% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 55.2% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 61.6% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Nelson 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 | 89.0% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 430-540 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 460-550 |
| Enrollment | 1,479 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 47.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,539 |
Nelson University effectively open-enrolls (89% admission rate). Admission is not a filtering mechanism here. The more important institutional risk factors are the 41.6% completion rate and the weak 10-year earnings of $46,238, which suggest that students who start here frequently do not finish.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Nelson's ROI score is 23.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nelson University (this school) | 23 | $21,662 | $46,238 |
| Abilene Christian University | 51 | $26,182 | $55,736 |
| Newberry College | 26 | $21,656 | $48,040 |
| Atlantic University | 26 | $6,425 | $25,272 |
| Lindsey Wilson College | 23 | $15,070 | $41,129 |
| Arlington Baptist University | 14 | $24,906 | $44,644 |
Who Thrives Here
Nelson University admits 89% of applicants. SAT mid-ranges are 430-540 Math and 460-550 Reading; ACT composite ranges are not reported. Enrollment is 1,479 students. Pell grant rate of 47.8% indicates a high share of students with financial need. The institution primarily serves students with Pentecostal or evangelical backgrounds seeking an education in a faith-integrated environment.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, Nelson University scores 23/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $21,662 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $46,238 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 20.2 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, its 41.6% graduation rate, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.81 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 66.2% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $24,725 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $30,400 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.81. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Nelson University: Common Questions
Is Nelson University worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. Nelson University scores 23/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $21,662 a year after aid against $46,238 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 20.2 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does Nelson 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 $21,662 a year, or roughly $86,648 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 Nelson University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $46,238 ten years after enrolling, roughly $4,438 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 Nelson 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 20.2 years for Nelson University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Nelson University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $24,725, against average earnings of $30,400 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.81. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Nelson University?
The six-year graduation rate is 41.6%. 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.