Provo College
Provo, Utah · Private For-Profit
ROI Score: 14/100 · Poor Value
Provo College, a private for-profit institution in Provo, UT, scores 14 on the ROI index -- firmly in Poor Value territory and among the weakest profiles in this batch. Net price is $27,053 against in-state tuition of $16,548, meaning aid actually adds cost (fees, books, living estimates push the all-in figure well above sticker). Median earnings six years after entry are $28,700, rising to $39,645 at the 10-year mark. The damaging numbers are debt-to-earnings of 1.454 -- median debt of $41,733 is roughly 1.5x first-year earnings -- and a payback period of 53.4 years. Completion rate is 51.4%, which is actually decent for a for-profit and produces the school's strongest subscore (42). Earnings premium over a high-school baseline is just 4.3%, and the repayment rate at three years is 55%, signaling many borrowers are not making progress on principal. With only 669 students enrolled and a 31% Pell rate, this is a small, debt-intensive program where the nursing pathway (the only reported program) carries surprising earnings power but at debt levels that erase the gain on standard ROI math.
The data raises concerns about Provo College
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score14/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Debt-to-earnings1.45 - Advisors recommend total student debt stay below one year of salary (ratio under 1.0).
- Payback period>50 years - Graduates earn at or near the level of high school completers — the cost may not recoup within a working career.
Provo College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $16,548/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $16,548/yr |
| Average net price | $27,053/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $108,212 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $39,645 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $28,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $41,733 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $442 |
| Estimated payback period | >50 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 51.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 669 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Provo College is $16,548/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $27,053/year, or roughly $108,212 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of N/A/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $28,227/year.
The median graduate leaves with $41,733 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $442 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $39,645 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 1.45 - above the recommended threshold where total debt should not exceed first-year salary.
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 | N/A |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $30,099 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $24,784 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $29,053 |
| $110,001+ | $28,227 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The $0-$30,000 net price bracket is not reported. The $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $30,099 -- which exceeds even the median net price of $27,053. The numbers suggest aid here is structured oddly, perhaps because for-profit aid disclosure to the federal system is incomplete. Low-income families should request a full financial-aid offer in writing before enrolling.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income brackets show inverted pricing: $48,001-$75,000 pays $24,784, while $30,001-$48,000 pays $30,099 -- meaning the lower-middle band actually pays more than the upper-middle band. This is a classic for-profit aid-letter anomaly worth flagging. The $75,001-$110,000 bracket pays $29,053, which is again higher than the $48-75K bracket.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Households above $110,000 pay $28,227. Combined with a $41,733 median debt load and $28,700 six-year earnings, the math doesn't pencil for self-funding families either. At this price band, an in-state public option would deliver materially better outcomes.
Earnings by Major
Top 1 most popular majors at Provo College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $79,485 | D |
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 the lone reported program with 138 graduates, median first-year earnings of $63,317 (rising to $79,485 at four years), and a D ROI grade. The earnings are strong by Utah RN standards, but median program debt is $51,285, producing an 0.81 debt-to-earnings ratio that the system grades D. The career path is licensed clinical nursing -- credible employment with starting pay near $60K, but the debt burden compresses lifetime advantage compared to the same RN credential pursued through Utah's public community-college system.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 48.9% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 55.2% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 48.5% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 50.5% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Enrollment | 669 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 31.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,300 |
Admission rate is not reported in current Scorecard data, which is typical for for-profit institutions that operate on rolling enrollment without a traditional selectivity gate. SAT and ACT data are also unreported. Without admission filtering, the 51.4% completion rate is the clearer signal: roughly half of enrolling students finish, which is on the high end for the for-profit category but still well below selective-public norms.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Peer institutions include Eagle Gate College-Murray, Nightingale College, The College of Westchester, Five Towns College, and American Intercontinental University-Atlanta. This cohort is uniformly small private/for-profit with varying ROI scores -- Nightingale College tends to outperform on healthcare-focused outcomes, while Five Towns and American Intercontinental share the same earnings-vs-debt headwinds Provo faces. Provo's 14 score puts it in the bottom half of this peer group, dragged down by the 1.454 debt-to-earnings ratio.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provo College (this school) | 14 | $27,053 | $39,645 |
| Nightingale College | 18 | $30,852 | $27,126 |
| Five Towns College | 17 | $22,992 | $35,887 |
| The College of Westchester | 15 | $16,296 | $42,215 |
| Eagle Gate College-Murray | 10 | $27,345 | $37,518 |
| American InterContinental University-Atlanta | 7 | $16,482 | $36,144 |
Who Thrives Here
Provo College fits adult learners pursuing licensed nursing in the Utah market who can either qualify for substantial outside aid or pay net price without taking on the full $41,733 in debt the median graduate carries. Enrollment of 669, 31% Pell rate, and an exclusively healthcare/professional curriculum frame the realistic candidate. Students who plan to fund the full ride with federal loans should expect a payback timeline that exceeds a working career on standard repayment.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Provo College. With a net cost of $27,053 per year and median graduate earnings of only $39,645 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds >50 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 51.3% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $41,733 against $39,645 in earnings is concerning. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.05 exceeds the commonly recommended threshold. Major choice is critical here.
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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.