Taylor University
Upland, Indiana · Private Nonprofit · 73.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 50/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
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. Average earnings six years after entry are just $31,600, climbing to a median $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 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 |
| Average 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 first number you'll see is the sticker price: $40,490/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $24,865/year, or roughly $99,460 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 $16,143/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $30,050/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $20,500, which works out to about $217 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($31,600) and comes to 0.65, 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 | $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.
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. 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 | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 87.7% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 87.8% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 86.3% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 88.1% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Taylor 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 | 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. 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.
Taylor's completion rate is 73.8% and three-year repayment rate is 87.7%.
| 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%, 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 money case for Taylor University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $24,865 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $52,198 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 13.9 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 it has going for it: its 73.8% graduation rate, high loan repayment success. What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a long payback period.
Median debt of $20,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $31,600 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65. 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.
Taylor University: Common Questions
Is Taylor University worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Taylor University scores 50/100 on our ROI scale. At $24,865 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $52,198 ten years after entry, so it takes about 13.9 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Taylor 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 $24,865 a year, or roughly $99,460 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 Taylor University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $52,198 ten years after enrolling, roughly $10,398 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 Taylor 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 13.9 years for Taylor University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Taylor University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $20,500, against average earnings of $31,600 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65. 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 Taylor University?
The six-year graduation rate is 73.8%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (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.