Southern Nazarene University
Bethany, Oklahoma · Private Nonprofit
ROI Score: 55/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Southern Nazarene University scores 55 (Below Average Value), pulled down primarily by a 50.5% completion rate and an 11.4-year payback period. Only about half of enrolled students finish their degrees - the single most damaging factor for school-wide ROI. Median 6-year earnings of $45,400 against a net price of $22,084 per year are not egregiously mismatched, but the tuition structure ($31,190 sticker) is expensive for a small Wesleyan-Holiness school in Bethany, Oklahoma. Debt-to-earnings of 0.482 is moderate. Registered Nursing is the standout program: 19 graduates, $69,818 year-one, $80,005 year-four, B-grade ROI. Human Resources Management (52 graduates) posts $61,939 year-one and $78,093 year-four with a B grade - strong results for a business-adjacent program at a small religious school. Business Administration (85 graduates) earns a C+. The tail of the distribution is genuinely poor: Liberal Arts graduates earning $23,445 year-one with a debt-to-earnings of 1.312 and F grade represents a worst-case scenario. Scorecard does not report the admission rate or test score ranges. The Pell rate of 47.0% indicates that a large share of the student body comes from low-income families - a population that bears the most risk from a 50.5% completion rate.
Southern Nazarene University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $31,190/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $31,190/yr |
| Average net price | $22,084/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $88,336 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $54,951 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $45,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,900 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $232 |
| Estimated payback period | 11.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 50.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,455 |
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: $31,190/year. Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $22,084/year, or roughly $88,336 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 $18,931/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $27,434/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $21,900 in federal loans, which works out to about $232 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $54,951 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.48, comfortably manageable.
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 | $18,931 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $18,323 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $22,590 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $27,082 |
| $110,001+ | $27,434 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families in the 0-30000 bracket pay $18,931 per year at Southern Nazarene - nearly 60% of the sticker price - which is relatively high for a school with a 47% Pell rate. The aid model does not appear especially generous to the school's core low-income population. Against a 50.5% completion rate and $45,400 median earnings, the financial exposure is real. Low-income students who enroll should prioritize high-earning programs and have a clear plan for completion support.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $22,590, rising to $27,082 for the 75001-110000 bracket. Middle-income families see net price climb sharply above the lowest tier. The $27,082 figure is hard to justify against $45,400 six-year median earnings unless the student is in nursing or HR management. Payback at $27k annual net cost against $45k earnings runs beyond a decade.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $27,434 per year - essentially the same as the upper-middle bracket. Sticker is $31,190, so there is minimal discounting at this income level. Full-price attendance at SNU with a non-nursing major requires careful consideration: the earnings profile does not support a premium private school investment at full price for most programs.
Earnings by Major
Top 8 most popular majors at Southern Nazarene University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $71,133 | C+ |
| Human Resources Management | $78,093 | B |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $47,976 | D |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $23,445 | F |
| Registered Nursing | $80,005 | B |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $44,821 | C |
| Teacher Education | $45,934 | - |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $50,918 | - |
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
Nursing is Southern Nazarene's strongest program: 19 graduates, $69,818 median year-one earnings, $80,005 at year four, median debt of $31,000, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.444 (B grade). The high debt figure relative to peers - $31,000 is above the national median for nursing programs - is a notable concern, but the earnings trajectory justifies it. Oklahoma nursing labor markets are strong, and BSN graduates have clear advancement paths. This is the clearest value proposition at SNU.
Human Resources Management
HR Management (52 graduates) produces the second-best program ROI at SNU: $61,939 year-one, $78,093 at year four, debt-to-earnings 0.416 (B grade) on median debt of $25,750. These are strong outcomes for a religious liberal arts school and suggest the program has practical placement strength in business settings. The B grade at this tuition level is genuinely encouraging.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is the largest program by graduate count (85) and posts $55,107 year-one and $71,133 year-four earnings with a C+ grade (debt-to-earnings 0.472). Median debt of $26,037 keeps the ratio in acceptable range, but the year-one earnings are only marginally above the $45,400 school-wide median. Graduates enter generalist management tracks that take time to mature. The C+ reflects adequate but not exceptional near-term financial performance.
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Liberal Arts (24 graduates) earns the worst ROI at SNU: $23,445 year-one earnings, no four-year figure reported, median debt of $30,754, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.312 (F grade). Graduates are borrowing more than a full year of earnings at origination. This program profile reflects the structural challenge of broad-curriculum degrees at religiously affiliated schools with limited employer-network reach. Students considering this path at SNU should understand the financial outcome data clearly.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 69.5% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 74.9% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 69.6% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 71.8% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Southern Nazarene University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2023).
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
| Enrollment | 1,455 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 47.0% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,779 |
Scorecard does not report an admission rate for Southern Nazarene University. The school operates with open or broad access aligned with its mission. Without published selectivity data, prospective students should investigate institutional graduation support and advising resources directly, given that completing the degree is the most critical success factor here.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
SNU's peer set includes Oklahoma Wesleyan University, Randall University, Southwestern University, Trinity Washington University, and Dordt University - a collection of small faith-based schools with varying ROI profiles. SNU's 55 overall score is middle-of-pack for this cohort. The 50.5% completion rate is the most distinctive weakness; Dordt (69% completion) and Southwestern (higher earnings) outperform on most dimensions. SNU's nursing and HR management outcomes are competitive for this peer group, but the aggregate profile is constrained by high non-completion.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Nazarene University (this school) | 55 | $22,084 | $54,951 |
| Dordt University | 54 | $25,807 | $52,559 |
| Southwestern University | 54 | $29,224 | $56,878 |
| Trinity Washington University | 53 | $9,302 | $53,804 |
| Oklahoma Wesleyan University | 51 | $28,358 | $59,841 |
| Randall University | 18 | $16,383 | $42,051 |
Who Thrives Here
Scorecard does not report an admission rate or test score distributions for Southern Nazarene. Enrollment is 1,455 students on a faith-based campus aligned with the Church of the Nazarene. Pell rate of 47.0% is very high for a private university, indicating a low-income majority student body. Students drawn to nursing, business, or human resources can find solid program-level ROI. The 50.5% completion rate is a serious flag - roughly half of enrolled students do not graduate, which means the institutional infrastructure for student success may need scrutiny before enrollment.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Southern Nazarene University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $22,084 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $54,951 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 11.4 years to earn the cost back - slower than most four-year schools. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What it has going for it: manageable debt relative to earnings. What to keep an eye on: its 50.5% graduation rate.
Median debt of $21,900 against $54,951 in earnings is reasonable, though your major matters a lot here. Graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
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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.