Spring Arbor University
Spring Arbor, Michigan · Private Nonprofit · 51.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 45/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Spring Arbor University scores 45 (Below Average Value). Debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.680 is above the threshold for comfortable repayment.
Spring Arbor University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $34,014/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $34,014/yr |
| Average net price | $19,353/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $77,412 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $51,732 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $38,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,375 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $280 |
| Estimated payback period | 13 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 63.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,010 |
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: $34,014/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $19,353/year, or roughly $77,412 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 $14,530/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $21,370/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $26,375, which works out to about $280 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($38,800) and comes to 0.68, 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 | $14,530 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $15,697 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $16,197 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $19,358 |
| $110,001+ | $21,370 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Low-income families (0-$30,000) pay $14,530 per year at Spring Arbor - $58,120 over four years. Against $38,800 average 6-year earnings and a 13-year payback, the financial case is weak for average earners. Nursing-track students substantially improve this math, but social work and ministry students face a difficult repayment path. Pell-eligible students should model PSLF eligibility for non-profit sector employment as a debt mitigation strategy.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $16,197 per year ($64,788 over four years) and the $75,001-$110,000 bracket pays $19,358 per year ($77,432 over four years). Against $38,800 average earnings, these net prices produce payback periods of 13-16 years for average earners.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income families ($110,000+) pay $21,370 per year - $85,480 over four years. At that cost, the financial case against $38,800 average earnings is poor without a nursing track or specific mission-driven rationale.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Spring Arbor University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Social Work | $49,642 | D |
| Registered Nursing | $91,869 | B |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $62,928 | C+ |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $50,735 | C |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $47,270 | C |
| Psychology | $41,167 | D |
| Accounting | $66,338 | C+ |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $43,021 | - |
| Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries | $36,814 | - |
| Special Education and Teaching | $42,461 | 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
Nursing is Spring Arbor's only program with genuinely strong ROI: 54 graduates, $77,680 at year one, $91,869 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.383 (ROI grade B). Nursing graduates enter Michigan's healthcare labor market, where demand in the Jackson-Lansing-Ann Arbor corridor supports strong placement. This is the financial anchor of Spring Arbor's profile; the nursing program justifies a serious look for students who want a faith-affiliated environment.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (34 graduates) earns $51,204 at year one and $62,928 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.527 (ROI grade C+). Against $19,353 net price, the payback is slow but functional for completers. The program is Spring Arbor's second-largest non-nursing offering. Business graduates from small faith-based Michigan schools tend to place into regional employers in West Michigan's business community - Grand Rapids area companies are the primary absorbers. The 4-year trajectory to $62,928 reflects steady but unspectacular career progression.
Social Work
Earnings of $39,071 at year one and $49,642 at year four reflect the constrained pay scale of Michigan's human services sector. Students entering social work at Spring Arbor should model Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility carefully, as it may be the primary debt relief mechanism available.
Psychology
Psychology (9 graduates) earns $35,492 at year one and $41,167 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.733 (ROI grade D). The small graduate count limits statistical reliability. The earnings trajectory is nearly flat from year one to year four, which is unusual and may reflect the specific career pathways of this small cohort. At Spring Arbor's net price, psychology without a clear graduate school plan produces a slow and difficult payback.
Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries
Pastoral Counseling and Ministries (6 graduates) earns $19,557 at year one and $36,814 at year four - the lowest year-one figure on campus. No debt or debt-to-earnings data is available for this program. This outcome reflects the compensation reality of pastoral and ministry roles in small and mid-size churches, where many positions are part-time or modestly compensated. Students entering this program at Spring Arbor's price point should expect long payback periods measured in decades, and the value proposition is primarily vocational rather than financial.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 65.1% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 69.4% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 64.8% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 70.1% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Spring Arbor 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 | 51.5% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 470-610 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 540-630 |
| Enrollment | 1,010 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 28.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,316 |
Spring Arbor's admission rate is 51.5% and its SAT ranges are 470-610 Math / 540-630 Reading. For students evaluating the school primarily on financial terms, admission difficulty is not a key variable.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Arbor University (this school) | 45 | $19,353 | $51,732 |
| Maranatha Baptist University | 47 | $26,005 | $45,593 |
| Gordon College | 46 | $24,883 | $52,119 |
| Lubbock Christian University | 46 | $24,456 | $53,787 |
| Erskine College | 45 | $16,525 | $53,459 |
| Union Adventist University | 43 | $23,716 | $55,045 |
Who Thrives Here
Spring Arbor admits 51.5% of applicants, with SAT mid-ranges of 470-610 Math and 540-630 Reading. No ACT composite range is reported. Enrollment of 1,010 is small. The university's Free Methodist Christian mission shapes curriculum, residential life, and faculty culture; the 63.5% completion rate and 28.7% Pell grant rate describe a student body that includes both mission-aligned and economically pressured students. Students with a clear vocational calling in nursing or ministry who prioritize the faith-formation environment may find Spring Arbor worth the premium.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Spring Arbor University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $19,353 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $51,732 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 13 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What to keep an eye on: a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.68 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 69.4% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $26,375 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $38,800 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.68. 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.
Spring Arbor University: Common Questions
Is Spring Arbor University worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Spring Arbor University scores 45/100 on our ROI scale. At $19,353 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $51,732 ten years after entry, so it takes about 13 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Spring Arbor 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 $19,353 a year, or roughly $77,412 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 Spring Arbor University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $51,732 ten years after enrolling, roughly $9,932 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 Spring Arbor 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 13 years for Spring Arbor University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Spring Arbor University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $26,375, against average earnings of $38,800 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.68. 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 Spring Arbor University?
The six-year graduation rate is 63.5%. 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.