Pfeiffer University
Misenheimer, North Carolina · Private Nonprofit · 96.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 34/100 · Poor Value
Pfeiffer University earns an overall ROI score of 34, in the Poor Value (red) tier. The school is a small Methodist-affiliated private in rural North Carolina with significant tuition discounting and weak persistence outcomes. Sticker tuition is $35,070 but net price is $19,076 - 46% off list - putting four-year cost at $76,304. Median debt at graduation is $26,163, against six-year earnings of $35,700, producing a 0.733 debt-to-earnings ratio that is high. Ten-year earnings climb to $51,562, indicating reasonable career-trajectory growth, and the 13.1-year payback period is lengthy but not catastrophic. The earnings premium of 21.7% is decent. The most concerning operational metric is the 35% completion rate - among the lowest for a private nonprofit at this price level, suggesting many enrolled students do not finish. Repayment behavior is weak, with only 64.5% of borrowers reducing principal three years out. The institution serves a high-need population (50.8% Pell rate) at very small scale (655 enrollment), and the typical financial outcome reflects both the regional labor market and persistence challenges.
The data raises concerns about Pfeiffer University
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score34/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- 6-year graduation rate35.0% - Well below the 60% national average. Non-completion is the fastest route to negative ROI.
Pfeiffer University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $35,070/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $35,070/yr |
| Average net price | $19,076/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $76,304 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $51,562 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $35,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,163 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $277 |
| Estimated payback period | 13.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 35.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 655 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Pfeiffer University is $35,070/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $19,076/year, or roughly $76,304 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $16,167/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $24,513/year.
The median graduate leaves with $26,163 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $277 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $51,562 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.73 - 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 | $16,167 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $14,758 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $16,941 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $20,005 |
| $110,001+ | $24,513 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $16,167 per year and the $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays slightly less at $14,758 - a small inversion. Four-year cost lands in the $59,000-$65,000 range for the lowest brackets, manageable but heavy relative to typical $35,700 graduate earnings. Pell-eligible students should compare against UNC system options and community-college transfer paths.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-$110,000) pay $16,941 to $20,005 per year. Four-year cost is $68,000-$80,000 in this bracket. The math is workable for nursing and business graduates and difficult for kinesiology and education. Compared to UNC Charlotte or Appalachian State, Pfeiffer's value at full middle-income net price is hard to defend.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Households over $110,000 pay $24,513 per year - approximately $98,000 across four years. At this price point, families would see substantially better outcomes at North Carolina's flagship publics or at private peers with stronger completion rates.
Earnings by Major
Top 5 most popular majors at Pfeiffer University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $60,936 | C |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $46,322 | F |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $50,798 | C+ |
| Registered Nursing | $75,033 | - |
| Teacher Education | $39,701 | - |
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 the largest program at 26 graduates yearly. Median first-year earnings of $45,004 and four-year earnings of $60,936 against $27,000 of debt produce a 0.6 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C grade. Career outcomes feed into Charlotte-area corporate operations, regional banking, and small-business management roles. The earnings figures are reasonable; the high debt level is the main drag.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is the standout earnings program with 16 graduates yearly and $66,499 first-year and $75,033 four-year earnings. Median debt is not reported. Career outcomes feed into Charlotte-area hospital systems (Atrium Health, Novant) where RN compensation is strong. For students who match into nursing the ROI math is compelling; the small cohort limits campus-wide impact.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal justice produces 18 graduates yearly with $50,798 four-year earnings on $25,125 of debt - a 0.495 ratio earning a C+ grade, the strongest non-nursing outcome on campus. Career outcomes feed into North Carolina law enforcement, corrections, and probation roles.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology produces 24 graduates yearly with $26,744 first-year earnings on $27,000 of debt - a 1.01 debt-to-earnings ratio and an F grade. This is the worst-performing program on campus by ROI. Four-year earnings recover to $46,322, suggesting graduate-degree throughput drives most wage gains. Students should not enter this program without a clear DPT, OT, or PA-school plan.
Teacher Education
Teacher education produces 10 graduates yearly with $39,701 first-year earnings; median debt and four-year earnings are not reported. Career outcomes feed into North Carolina K-12 public and Christian-school positions. NC teacher salary structure constrains the earnings ceiling, and PSLF planning is essential to make any debt load workable over time.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 58.5% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 64.5% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 64.8% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 65.7% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 96.0% |
| Enrollment | 655 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 50.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,705 |
Pfeiffer admits 96% of applicants - effectively open access. SAT and ACT mid-ranges are not reported in current Scorecard data. With this admit rate and a 35% completion rate, the data describe a serious mismatch between student preparation and degree-completion supports. Prospective students should evaluate carefully and consider whether the local community-college system might serve them better at lower risk.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Pfeiffer's peer set is small private regional Christian colleges. Barton College in North Carolina and Belmont Abbey College are the closest geographic peers; Belmont Abbey posts notably stronger ROI thanks to higher completion. Corban University is an Oregon Christian peer. North Central University and Ohio Dominican University are similar small Christian-affiliated institutions. Among this set Pfeiffer sits at the lower end on both completion and post-graduation earnings, primarily because of the very low completion rate.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pfeiffer University (this school) | 34 | $19,076 | $51,562 |
| Ohio Dominican University | 35 | $20,079 | $51,748 |
| Corban University | 35 | $28,035 | $48,917 |
| North Central University | 33 | $25,817 | $45,064 |
| Barton College | 24 | $23,626 | $47,913 |
| Belmont Abbey College | 24 | $24,639 | $47,937 |
Who Thrives Here
Pfeiffer fits North Carolina students from rural Stanly County and the Charlotte-region commuter belt seeking a very small (655 enrollment) Methodist-affiliated college close to home. Pell rate is 50.8%, indicating a heavily working and first-generation student body. Outcomes are strongest for nursing graduates ($66,499 first-year earnings); business administration is the largest program with reasonable returns. Students drawn to kinesiology should be aware of the 1.01 debt-to-earnings ratio in that major and plan accordingly. The 35% completion rate signals real persistence headwinds.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Pfeiffer University. With a net cost of $19,076 per year and median graduate earnings of only $51,562 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 13.1 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include a 35.0% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $26,163 against $51,562 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.