Southwest Baptist University
Bolivar, Missouri · Private Nonprofit · 68.4% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 29/100 · Poor Value
Southwest Baptist University, a small Missouri Baptist liberal arts college in Bolivar, scores 29 (Poor Value). The data: $30,566 tuition, $21,677 net price (29% discount), $20,957 median federal debt, and ten-year median earnings of just $43,112. The 0.676 debt-to-earnings ratio and 27.9-year payback period are both weak. Completion at 55.3% is mediocre, and repayment rate of 73.8% is mid-pack. The school's program mix - nursing, education, kinesiology, business, psychology - is typical of small religious liberal arts schools, but earnings outcomes are weak across most of it except nursing. The 36.3% Pell rate suggests a mostly working-class to lower-middle income student body. With 1,341 students and avgFacultySalary of $6,072 (low even for small private nonprofits), the school operates on thin resources. SBU's value proposition is the Baptist Christian identity and small-town Missouri community. As of 2024-2025 Scorecard data, the financial outcomes don't justify the cost for non-nursing students; the school is best understood as a values-driven choice for Baptist families.
The data raises concerns about Southwest Baptist University
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score29/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Payback period27.9 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Southwest Baptist University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $30,566/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $30,566/yr |
| Average net price | $21,677/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $86,708 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $43,112 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $31,000 |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,957 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $222 |
| Estimated payback period | 27.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 55.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,341 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Southwest Baptist University is $30,566/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $21,677/year, or roughly $86,708 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $21,978/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $23,857/year.
The median graduate leaves with $20,957 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $222 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $43,112 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.68 - 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 | $21,978 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $17,947 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $19,633 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $22,016 |
| $110,001+ | $23,857 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30K pay $21,978 net per year, and the $30K-$48K band actually pays less at $17,947 - a noticeable inverted bracket where need-based aid stacks more favorably for the slightly-higher-income bracket. Low-income students face roughly $88K four-year out-of-pocket cost - severe against $43K earnings unless the student is in the nursing pipeline.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48K-$75K band pays $19,633 and the $75K-$110K band climbs to $22,016. Middle-income Missouri families face $79K-$88K in four-year cost. Workable only for nursing graduates; the school's other major mixes leave middle-income borrowers stretched thin against weak earnings.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110K pay $23,857 net per year. Total four-year cost approaches $95K. For Baptist families committed to the SBU identity, this is the price; the value math works only with the nursing pipeline. Comparable Missouri public alternatives (Missouri State, University of Central Missouri) deliver materially better financial outcomes.
Earnings by Major
Top 8 most popular majors at Southwest Baptist University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $78,525 | B |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $58,770 | C |
| Teacher Education | $36,697 | D |
| Psychology | $43,058 | D |
| Computer Science | $62,016 | - |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $56,182 | - |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $41,618 | D |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $38,801 | - |
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 SBU's standout ROI program: 51 graduates with $69,273 first-year earnings, $29,171 debt, and a 0.421 D/E ratio (B grade). SBU nursing graduates feed Missouri and Ozarks-region hospital systems where the regulated nursing labor market produces predictable strong starting salaries. This is the one program where the SBU financial math works clearly.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology produces 47 graduates with $30,837 first-year earnings, $19,550 debt, and a 0.634 D/E ratio (C grade). Lower debt than most SBU majors but earnings are modest. Workable for students continuing to physical therapy or athletic training graduate programs; weak as a terminal credential.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education enrolls 35 graduates with $27,348 first-year earnings, $21,250 debt, and a 0.777 D/E ratio (D grade). Missouri rural-district teacher salaries cap the upside, and the private-school debt load creates real friction. Workable only for students committed to teaching in Baptist-affiliated K-12 environments.
Psychology
Psychology enrolls 29 graduates with $30,870 first-year earnings, $26,348 debt, and a 0.854 D/E ratio (D grade). The bachelor's-only psychology problem in concentrated form: starting pay barely clears payment thresholds. Students need a clear graduate plan to make this work economically.
Teacher Education, Subject-Specific
Subject-Specific Teacher Ed enrolls 12 graduates with $35,507 first-year earnings, $25,762 debt, and a 0.726 D/E ratio (D grade). Slightly better than the general teacher-ed track but still weak relative to private-school costs. Workable for students drawn to specific content areas with shortage incentives.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 70.5% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 73.8% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 65.9% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 71.1% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 68.4% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 380-600 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 430-610 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 17-26 |
| Enrollment | 1,341 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 36.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,072 |
SBU admits 68.4% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 380-600 math and 430-610 reading - notably wide ranges with low floors, suggesting the school admits academically weak students alongside stronger ones. The ACT band of 17-26 has the same wide spread. The 55.3% completion rate aligns with this admit profile: a meaningful share of admitted students are marginally prepared, and persistence varies dramatically.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Among named peers, SBU's 29 ROI is consistent with other small Baptist and evangelical Christian schools. Avila University and Atlantic University post similar weak numbers. Mission University and Arizona Christian University score in the same range with comparable faith-based missions. Asbury University posts somewhat better outcomes driven by stronger ministry-track graduate placement. The peer set confirms SBU's challenges are typical of small Baptist liberal arts schools - high cost meeting modest earnings without strong professional pipelines except nursing.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Baptist University (this school) | 29 | $21,677 | $43,112 |
| Avila University | 51 | $16,053 | $52,773 |
| Arizona Christian University | 30 | $32,839 | $51,612 |
| Asbury University | 29 | $21,401 | $42,368 |
| Atlantic University | 26 | $6,425 | $25,272 |
| Mission University | 15 | $21,383 | $38,641 |
Who Thrives Here
SBU fits Baptist Christian students in Missouri and the Ozarks region drawn to a faith-integrated education, particularly prospective nurses, teachers, and ministry-track students. With 36.3% Pell rate and 1,341 students, the campus is small and economically mixed. Strong fit for nursing students who can leverage the regulated-license labor market; weak fit for students choosing the school's psychology, kinesiology, or education programs where Missouri's regional wages don't support the private-school debt load. Students should view SBU as a values choice with one strong financial path (nursing) and several weak ones.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Southwest Baptist University. With a net cost of $21,677 per year and median graduate earnings of only $43,112 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 27.9 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and high debt relative to what graduates earn and a long payback period.
Median debt of $20,957 against $43,112 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.