Regent University
Virginia Beach, Virginia · Private Nonprofit · 38.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 27/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Regent University, a private Christian institution in Virginia Beach, posts an overall CampusROI score of 27 - Below Benchmark tier. The cost stack is in the moderate-private range: $21,650 sticker tuition, $19,923 net price, and roughly $79,692 over four years. Where the math breaks down is on earnings: 10-year median earnings of $44,498 sit only modestly above the high-school baseline (11.9% earnings premium, sub-score 22), producing a 23.1-year payback period. Median debt of $24,534 yields a 0.71 debt-to-earnings ratio (sub-score 28). The repayment sub-score of 16 is the most worrying input - only 58.4% of borrowers are reducing principal at three years, indicating a meaningful share of borrowers in deferment, forbearance, or struggling repayment. The earnings problem is partly structural: nearly 40% of Regent's largest cohorts (psychology, biblical studies, pastoral counseling) sit in the F-grade ROI zone with debt-to-earnings ratios above 0.96. The honest read: Regent's specialized Christian-mission curriculum produces predictable but financially weak outcomes for most majors.
How Regent 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 Score27/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- Payback period23.1 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Regent University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $21,650/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $21,650/yr |
| Average net price | $19,923/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $79,692 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $44,498 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $34,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,534 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $260 |
| Estimated payback period | 23.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 56.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 4,729 |
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: $21,650/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $19,923/year, or roughly $79,692 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 $20,064/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $22,588/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $24,534, which works out to about $260 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($34,800) and comes to 0.70, 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 | $20,064 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $19,327 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $17,806 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $19,148 |
| $110,001+ | $22,588 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $20,064 net annually - the second-highest of any income tier and notably above the $48,001-$75,000 bracket's $17,806. This is an inverted-bracket pattern worth flagging. Over four years, low-income families face about $80,000 of cost, which is hard to reconcile against $44,498 of 10-year earnings even with significant Pell aid. Borrowing should be minimized aggressively here.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Households at $48,001-$75,000 pay $17,806, the lowest net price in the table, while $75,001-$110,000 pays $19,148 and $30,001-$48,000 pays $19,327. The pricing curve is non-monotonic and slightly inverted in the lower tiers. Middle-income families face $71,000-$77,000 over four years, which combined with the 23.1-year payback period means borrowing should be limited and major selection should skew toward business or HR.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $22,588 net, or about $90,000 over four years - only modestly discounted from sticker. The choice at this tier is mission-driven, not ROI-driven.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Regent University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $41,007 | F |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $59,087 | C |
| Communication and Media Studies | $41,335 | D |
| Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries | $49,799 | F |
| Bible/Biblical Studies | $48,776 | D |
| Human Resources Management | $61,752 | C |
| English Language and Literature | $40,012 | F |
| Public Policy Analysis | $60,776 | C |
| Graphic Communications | $29,565 | F |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $44,176 | 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.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business is Regent's largest non-psychology cohort with 73 graduates per year. Graduates earn $48,397 at one year and $59,087 at four years against $27,500 of debt - a 0.57 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C grade. Career paths span operations, marketing, and small-business management, often with a Christian-business or nonprofit orientation. This is one of the more defensible ROI tracks on campus.
Psychology
Psychology is Regent's largest program by far at 122 graduates per year, and one of its weakest financially. Graduates earn $30,307 at one year and $41,007 at four years against $33,625 of debt - a 1.11 debt-to-earnings ratio and an F grade. The bachelor's-only psychology pathway requires graduate work to unlock higher earnings, and the high debt load at Regent makes the necessary master's even more expensive. Families considering this track should plan for the full PhD or MS pipeline before enrolling.
Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries
Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries graduates earn $33,407 at one year and $49,799 at four years against $35,500 of debt - a 1.06 debt-to-earnings ratio and an F grade. With 44 graduates per year this is a sizeable mission-aligned cohort; the F grade reflects both moderately low ministry compensation and a high relative debt load. PSLF eligibility for those serving in qualifying nonprofits is the most important financial factor.
Human Resources Management
HR Management is one of Regent's strongest ROI programs by raw earnings. Graduates earn $51,631 at one year and $61,752 at four years against $30,031 of debt - a 0.58 ratio and a C grade. With 21 graduates per year this is a meaningful cohort.
Communication and Media Studies
Communication graduates earn $29,313 at one year and $41,335 at four years against $23,750 of debt - a 0.81 ratio and a D grade. With 50 graduates per year this is a popular major but financially mediocre, with earnings substantially below the business and HR tracks despite similar credit-hour requirements. Career paths in media production and communications are competitive nationally.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 55.7% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 58.4% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 50.2% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 55.9% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Regent 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 | 38.1% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 460-600 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 530-650 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 19-26 |
| Enrollment | 4,729 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 51.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,375 |
Regent admits 38.1% of applicants, which on paper looks selective but reflects a self-selecting Christian-affiliated applicant pool more than academic rigor. SAT mid-50% ranges of 460-600 math and 530-650 reading, with an ACT mid-range of 19-26, suggest the academic profile is broadly average.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regent University (this school) | 27 | $19,923 | $44,498 |
| Averett University | 37 | $22,925 | $51,516 |
| Colorado Christian University | 34 | $29,500 | $50,416 |
| Bluefield University | 32 | $25,573 | $48,896 |
| Universidad Politecnica de Puerto Rico | 27 | $17,540 | $47,540 |
| Columbia College | 25 | $22,715 | $45,378 |
Who Thrives Here
With 4,729 students, a 51.2% Pell rate, and a Christian-mission identity, Regent fits students who specifically want a faith-integrated bachelor's degree and qualify for federal aid. Outcomes look strongest in HR management ($61,752 four-year), business administration ($59,087), and public policy ($60,776). Outcomes look concerning for the 122-graduate-per-year psychology cohort ($41,007 with a 1.11 debt ratio, F grade) and pastoral counseling (44 graduates, F grade). Major selection is by far the largest determinant of whether the math works.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, Regent University scores 27/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $19,923 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $44,498 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 23.1 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, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 58.4% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $24,534 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $34,800 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70. 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.
Regent University: Common Questions
Is Regent University worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. Regent University scores 27/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $19,923 a year after aid against $44,498 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 23.1 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does Regent 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 $19,923 a year, or roughly $79,692 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 Regent University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $44,498 ten years after enrolling, roughly $2,698 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 Regent 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 23.1 years for Regent University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Regent University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $24,534, against average earnings of $34,800 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70. 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 Regent University?
The six-year graduation rate is 56.9%. 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.