Taylor University
Upland, Indiana · Private Nonprofit · 73.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 50/100 · Below Average Value
Taylor University earns a Below Average Value score of 50 out of 100, which underweights some of its real strengths. Completion is excellent - 73.8% finish within six years, well above the small-private average - and the federal repayment rate is exceptional at 87.7% one year out and 88.1% at seven years. Almost no one defaults. But the cost structure pulls the headline number down. Sticker tuition is $40,490 and the average net price is $24,865 per year, or $99,460 over four years. Median earnings six years after entry are just $31,600, climbing to $52,198 at the ten-year mark - a 17.3% earnings premium that produces a 13.9-year payback period. Median debt of $20,500 against early-career earnings near $31,600 gives a 0.649 debt-to-earnings ratio that meaningfully constrains the early-career years. The pattern here is typical of strong faith-affiliated liberal arts colleges: students are exceptionally likely to graduate and exceptionally likely to repay, but many enter ministry, teaching, or nonprofit work where reported wages run low. The lifetime story is better than the six-year snapshot suggests; the headline ROI score does not fully capture that.
Taylor University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $40,490/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $40,490/yr |
| Average net price | $24,865/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $99,460 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $52,198 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $31,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $217 |
| Estimated payback period | 13.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 73.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,025 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Taylor University is $40,490/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $24,865/year, or roughly $99,460 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $16,143/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $30,050/year.
The median graduate leaves with $20,500 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $217 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $52,198 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.65 - 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 | $16,143 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $17,262 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $18,100 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $23,504 |
| $110,001+ | $30,050 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning $0-30,000 see a net price of $16,143 - meaningful aid relative to the $40,490 sticker. The $30,001-48,000 bracket pays $17,262. For low-income families willing to take on $65,000-69,000 over four years, the high completion rate (74%) and strong repayment record (88%) materially de-risk the investment compared with a less-completing alternative.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-75,000 bracket pays $18,100 and $75,001-110,000 pays $23,504. Aid extends well into the middle class, particularly through the $75K line. Total four-year cost for these families runs $72,000-94,000, against $52,198 in ten-year earnings - tight, but the math improves significantly for students in Business, Finance, or Computer Science majors.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $30,050 per year - $120,200 over four years. For full-pay families, this is essentially private liberal-arts pricing without the elite-tier brand. Worth comparing carefully against Wheaton, Calvin, or other higher-ranking Christian peers, and against Indiana publics (IU, Purdue) where outcomes would be meaningfully stronger at lower cost.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Taylor University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Teacher Education | $50,237 | C |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | $57,113 | D |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $50,403 | - |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $76,192 | C+ |
| Psychology | $39,400 | D |
| Marketing | $78,191 | B |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $45,105 | C+ |
| Finance and Financial Management | $60,336 | B+ |
| Computer Science | $108,812 | - |
| Design and Applied Arts | $31,921 | 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.
Computer Science
Small program (13 graduates) but the standout earnings performer - one-year median is $77,081 and four-year is $108,812, the highest reported. Debt data is not reported for this program, which limits the formal ROI calc, but the earnings trajectory is genuinely excellent for any school, let alone a small Christian liberal arts college. Taylor CS has strong placement into Indianapolis tech, Midwest healthcare IT, and faith-affiliated companies. The clearest financial win on the academic menu.
Finance and Financial Management
Fifteen graduates with one-year earnings of $60,336 and median debt of just $16,000 - a 0.265 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B+ grade. The combination of strong starting wages and below-average debt makes this Taylor's best risk-adjusted ROI play. Graduates head into corporate finance, wealth management, and Christian-affiliated firms throughout the Midwest. Smaller cohort than Business Admin but stronger outcomes per graduate.
Marketing
Twenty-two graduates with one-year earnings of $49,939 and a strong $78,191 four-year median. Median debt is $20,182 - close to school average - giving a 0.404 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B grade. The 60% earnings recovery in three years is among the steepest curves on the Taylor docket, suggesting graduates are landing in growth-oriented marketing roles. Solid value for students with quantitative interests.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Twenty-nine graduates with one-year earnings of $53,504 and four-year earnings of $76,192. Median debt is $25,356 (above school median), producing a 0.474 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C+ grade. Strong absolute earnings, but the higher debt load makes this less efficient than Finance or Marketing. Most useful for students aiming at general management, sales leadership, or family-business succession paths.
Teacher Education
Thirty-nine graduates - one of the larger cohorts - with one-year earnings of $45,389 and four-year of $50,237. The flat earnings curve (only $5K growth in three years) reflects the rigid teacher-salary schedule. Median debt of $25,000 gives a 0.551 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C grade. Taylor's teacher-prep program is well-regarded and graduates place into Christian schools, public schools in Indiana, and missionary-affiliated international schools. Stable career, modest ROI.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 87.7% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 87.8% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 86.3% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 88.1% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 73.5% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 530-660 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 540-670 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 24-31 |
| Enrollment | 2,025 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 13.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,744 |
Taylor admits 73.5% of applicants, but the academic profile is meaningfully stronger than the admit rate suggests because it draws a self-selecting evangelical-Christian applicant pool. SAT mid-ranges are 530-660 math and 540-670 reading; ACT composite is 24-31 - the high end of which is genuinely selective. That preparation level shows up in the 73.8% completion rate. Prepared students with scores above the 75th percentile typically perform well above the institutional average.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Federal peers are Anderson University-IN, Bethel University-IN, Bob Jones University, Nazareth University, and McKendree University. The Indiana faith-affiliated cluster (Anderson, Bethel, Taylor) shares similar academic profiles and student-faith demographics. Taylor's 73.8% completion is the strongest of the three, and its 87.7% repayment rate is near the top of this peer group. Bob Jones serves a more conservative-fundamentalist niche; Nazareth (NY) is more career-oriented. Taylor's overall ROI score is held back by net price more than by outcomes; on completion and repayment it leads the cohort.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taylor University (this school) | 50 | $24,865 | $52,198 |
| San Diego Christian College | 51 | $992 | $49,766 |
| Trevecca Nazarene University | 51 | $16,813 | $49,378 |
| Biola University | 50 | $31,495 | $56,778 |
| Olivet Nazarene University | 50 | $20,729 | $53,213 |
| Campbell University | 49 | $24,516 | $54,886 |
Who Thrives Here
Small evangelical Christian college, enrollment 2,025, in rural Upland, Indiana. Pell rate is just 13.5% - one of the lowest in the dataset - indicating a predominantly middle and upper-middle-class student body. This fits students who want an explicitly Christian residential community, strong academic outcomes within that frame, and clear pre-professional pathways in Business, Computer Science, Finance, or Education. Students drawn to ministry, missions, or nonprofit work will fit well but should plan for lower reported wages. Pre-med and pre-engineering students benefit from the strong completion rate.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The financial case for Taylor University is mixed. At $24,865 per year net cost, graduates earn a median of $52,198 ten years after entry - a payback period of 13.9 years. That's below the average return for four-year institutions, and prospective students should carefully consider whether the investment aligns with their financial goals.
Key strengths include a 73.8% graduation rate, high loan repayment success. However, the data also shows weak earnings relative to cost and high debt relative to what graduates earn and a long payback period.
Median debt of $20,500 against $52,198 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.