Southwestern Christian University
Bethany, Oklahoma · Private Nonprofit
ROI Score: 14/100 · Poor Value
Southwestern Christian University earns a 14/100 ROI score and a Poor Value tier -- one of the lower scores in our database. The data is uniformly weak. Median earnings six years after entry are just $28,400, climbing to $40,391 by year ten. The earnings premium of 6.7% over a high-school graduate is essentially negligible. Net price averages $20,146 against a $21,900 sticker, indicating very limited institutional aid. Total four-year cost is $80,584. The implied payback period is 40.9 years -- effectively never within a working career. Median federal debt is $20,715, producing a 0.729 debt-to-earnings ratio. Completion is dismal at 16.1% -- the third-weakest sub-score in this batch and a serious institutional concern. Repayment performance is among the worst in our database: 53% of borrowers are making progress at three years, falling to 48% at five years (active default territory). The honest read: SCU is a tiny Pentecostal Holiness Church-affiliated college whose primary value proposition is faith-formation for a narrow community of denominationally-aligned students. The 16% completion rate suggests significant student-experience problems beyond program quality. As a financial investment the math is structurally indefensible; students choosing SCU must do so for non-financial reasons and should minimize borrowing.
The data raises concerns about Southwestern Christian University
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.
- 6-year graduation rate16.1% - Well below the 60% national average. Non-completion is the fastest route to negative ROI.
- Payback period40.9 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Southwestern Christian University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $21,900/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $21,900/yr |
| Average net price | $20,146/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $80,584 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $40,391 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $28,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,715 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $220 |
| Estimated payback period | 40.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 16.1% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 377 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Southwestern Christian University is $21,900/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $20,146/year, or roughly $80,584 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $18,830/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $26,620/year.
The median graduate leaves with $20,715 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $220 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $40,391 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 | $18,830 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $16,903 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $18,700 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $22,401 |
| $110,001+ | $26,620 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $18,830 net price. Note bracket inversion: the $30K-$48K bracket pays $16,903, MEANINGFULLY LESS than the lowest-income bracket. This is a clear data anomaly worth questioning. Across four years, $75,320 net cost against $28,400 six-year earnings is structurally impossible. Pell-eligible students should treat this institution as financially incompatible with their resources.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income brackets pay $16,903 ($30K-$48K), $18,700 ($48K-$75K), and $22,401 ($75K-$110K). Aid is broadly flat across the lower middle and rises sharply at the $75K threshold. The $30K-$48K bracket is the value sweet spot due to the inversion noted above.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Households above $110,000 pay $26,620 -- $4,720 ABOVE the $21,900 sticker tuition, indicating room-board-fees push total cost-of-attendance well above tuition alone. Over four years that's $106,480. Given $40,391 ten-year median earnings, the math does not work for any income tier. This is a denominationally-motivated choice, not an economic one.
Earnings by Major
Top 2 most popular majors at Southwestern Christian University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $46,137 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $49,297 | F |
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.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology is SCU's largest tracked program with 22 graduates per cohort. Earnings are $30,063 one year out and $46,137 four years out. Median debt is $22,375 against a 0.744 debt-to-earnings ratio (D grade). Many kinesiology students intend graduate school in PT/OT/PA tracks; bachelor's-only outcomes are weak. Oklahoma's public flagships (OU, OSU) offer kinesiology programs at materially better cost and outcomes.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business administration graduates earn $38,812 one year out and $49,297 four years out, against a stunning $40,416 median debt -- twice the school median -- producing a 1.041 debt-to-earnings ratio (F grade). 16 graduates per cohort. The debt level here is dramatically higher than the school average, suggesting business students borrow heavily to attend. With those debt-to-earnings dynamics, this is a structurally poor financial choice; Oklahoma publics produce business graduates at one-quarter the debt level.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 56.2% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 53.1% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 47.8% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 57.4% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Enrollment | 377 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 46.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $5,229 |
SCU's admission rate is not reported in current Scorecard data. SAT and ACT mid-ranges are also not reported, consistent with test-optional admissions and small reporting samples. The 16.1% completion rate is among the weakest in our database and indicates serious retention challenges -- either admitted students are not academically prepared, the small-college support infrastructure is inadequate, or both. Prospective students and families should ask hard questions about academic-support services and graduation rates by program before enrolling.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
SCU's peer set includes Oklahoma Wesleyan University, Southern Nazarene University, Herzing University Brookfield, Trinity Baptist College, and Mitchell College. The most relevant Oklahoma comparators are Oklahoma Wesleyan and Southern Nazarene, both of which post substantially better completion rates and earnings outcomes despite similar faith-affiliated identities. Trinity Baptist College in Florida is a closer match by mission and ROI profile -- both schools struggle with similar weak metrics. SCU is at the bottom of this peer cluster.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southwestern Christian University (this school) | 14 | $20,146 | $40,391 |
| Trinity Bible College and Graduate School | 18 | $19,359 | $35,604 |
| Toccoa Falls College | 16 | $21,642 | $36,630 |
| Arlington Baptist University | 14 | $24,906 | $44,644 |
| Emmanuel University | 12 | $20,925 | $38,208 |
| Great Lakes Christian College | 12 | $15,524 | $31,053 |
Who Thrives Here
SCU enrolls just 377 students with a 46.7% Pell rate -- a small, heavily access-mission Christian college. The student body is predominantly drawn by Pentecostal Holiness Church identity and small-campus religious formation. The fit profile is exceptionally narrow: students specifically called to ministry within this denominational tradition who can fully fund their education without significant borrowing. Anyone choosing SCU primarily for academic or career outcomes is making a poor choice given the data; Oklahoma's strong public regionals (Northwestern Oklahoma State, East Central) deliver dramatically better outcomes at lower net cost.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Southwestern Christian University. With a net cost of $20,146 per year and median graduate earnings of only $40,391 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 40.9 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 16.1% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $20,715 against $40,391 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.