Newman University
Wichita, Kansas · Private Nonprofit · 74.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 55/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Newman University scores 55 (Below Average Value) with an 11-year payback period, 52.8% completion rate, and $39,500 average 6-year earnings. The Catholic liberal arts university in Wichita enrolls 851 students and has a net price of $19,971 against $35,500 sticker tuition. Median debt of $20,801 produces a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.527. The repayment rate of 69.5% signals that many graduates are struggling with their loans. Nursing (28 graduates, $65,957 year one) is the strongest program; most other programs fall short of covering their debt load within a reasonable timeframe.
Newman University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $35,500/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $35,500/yr |
| Average net price | $19,971/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $79,884 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $55,041 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $39,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,801 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $221 |
| Estimated payback period | 11 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 52.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 851 |
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: $35,500/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $19,971/year, or roughly $79,884 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 $18,060/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $21,774/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $20,801, which works out to about $221 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($39,500) and comes to 0.53, 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 | $18,060 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $16,366 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $21,234 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $17,142 |
| $110,001+ | $21,774 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The $0-30,000 income bracket pays $18,060 per year at Newman. At four-year total cost of roughly $72,000 against $39,500 average 6-year earnings and an 11-year payback, the financial case is strained. Low-income students should apply for all available state and federal aid and focus on high-earning programs like nursing.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($30,001-48,000) pay $16,366. The $48,001-75,000 bracket pays $21,234 and the $75,001-110,000 bracket drops to $17,142. Middle-income families get inconsistent aid distribution; the $75-110k bracket actually pays less than the $48-75k tier.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,001+ pay $21,774 per year - about $87,000 over four years. Against $39,500 average 6-year earnings and an 11-year payback, the full-pay case is weak unless the student enters nursing or health sciences.
Earnings by Major
Top 4 most popular majors at Newman University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Teacher Education | $45,869 | C |
| Registered Nursing | $77,122 | B |
| Biology | $63,923 | B |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $37,399 | - |
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 (28 graduates) earns $65,957 year one and $77,122 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.387 (ROI grade B). Nursing is Newman's strongest financial program. The Wichita healthcare market supports reliable nursing employment. Median debt of $25,500 is moderate. Students targeting nursing at Newman face a workable ROI in a city with lower cost of living than most metro markets.
Biology
Biology (23 graduates) earns $63,923 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.352 (ROI grade B). No year-one data is available, suggesting many biology graduates are enrolled in graduate or professional school at that point. The B-grade ROI is reasonable for a pre-professional track. Students should factor in graduate school costs when assessing the full financial arc.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education is Newman's largest program at 52 graduates, earning $43,296 year one and $45,869 at year four - near-flat growth that reflects Kansas public school salary scales. Debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.577 earns a C grade with $25,000 median debt. Teachers who pursue loan forgiveness through PSLF or Kansas state programs can improve this picture; those who don't face a persistent debt-income gap.
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
Interdisciplinary Studies (12 graduates) earns $37,399 at year one with no year-four data available. No ROI grade is reported. The year-one figure is below the institution's average 6-year earnings of $39,500, indicating this program track routes graduates into lower-wage labor market entry. Students considering a general or interdisciplinary degree at Newman should evaluate the specific career pathway carefully.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 64.1% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 69.5% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 65.9% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 72.5% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Newman 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 | 74.0% |
| Enrollment | 851 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 12.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,512 |
Newman accepts 73.9% of applicants. No test score data is reported. Admission is broadly accessible. The completion rate is the more meaningful threshold: students who enroll should understand that the institutional average for graduation is just above half, which suggests systemic challenges in retention and persistence.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newman University (this school) | 55 | $19,971 | $55,041 |
| Baker University | 65 | $25,301 | $63,855 |
| Lycoming College | 54 | $19,140 | $56,210 |
| Bryan College-Dayton | 54 | $20,614 | $54,434 |
| Heritage University | 51 | $14,598 | $49,416 |
| Benedictine College | 45 | $27,891 | $53,175 |
Who Thrives Here
Newman fits students seeking a small Catholic liberal arts experience in Wichita at a below-market net price and are targeting nursing, biology, or health sciences. The 73.9% acceptance rate is accessible. The 52.8% completion rate means roughly half of enrollees do not graduate - a significant institutional risk indicator. Students entering general business, education, or social science tracks face an uphill debt-to-earnings picture. With only 851 enrolled, the campus is very small.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Newman University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $19,971 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $55,041 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 11 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What to keep an eye on: a three-year loan repayment rate of 69.5% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $20,801 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $39,500 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.53, 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.
Newman University: Common Questions
Is Newman University worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Newman University scores 55/100 on our ROI scale. At $19,971 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $55,041 ten years after entry, so it takes about 11 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Newman 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 $19,971 a year, or roughly $79,884 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 Newman University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $55,041 ten years after enrolling, roughly $13,241 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 Newman 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 11 years for Newman University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Newman University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $20,801, against average earnings of $39,500 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.53. 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 Newman University?
The six-year graduation rate is 52.8%. 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.