Texas Lutheran University
Seguin, Texas · Private Nonprofit · 95.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 45/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Texas Lutheran University scores 45 (Below Average Value) on the CampusROI scale. With $36,230 tuition and a 53.9% completion rate, the school's core problem is that fewer than six in ten students finish - at a private nonprofit price point that runs to $24,654 average net price. Average 6-year earnings of $38,600 and a 12.6-year payback period reflect an institution where most graduates enter lower-earning fields and where a significant share of students incur debt without completing. Nursing is the outlier: 105 graduates earning $68,974 year-one with a B+ ROI grade. Only four programs have sufficient data for analysis.
Texas Lutheran University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $36,230/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $36,230/yr |
| Average net price | $24,654/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $98,616 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $53,863 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $38,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $265 |
| Estimated payback period | 12.6 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 53.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,304 |
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: $36,230/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $24,654/year, or roughly $98,616 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 $20,512/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $28,596/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $25,000, which works out to about $265 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($38,600) 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 | $20,512 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $22,843 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $24,243 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $24,555 |
| $110,001+ | $28,596 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $20,512 net price per year at TLU. The 34.6% Pell grant rate indicates TLU enrolls a significant low-income population. For low-income nursing students who complete, the earnings math works. For everyone else, the $20k annual cost at a 53.9% completion rate and $38,600 average earnings is a significant financial risk.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-$75,000) pay $24,243 per year; those earning $75,001-$110,000 pay $24,555. These are nearly flat across the income range, suggesting limited incremental aid for middle-income families. A student paying $24k per year who completes nursing will have an adequate ROI. A student who does not complete, or who completes a lower-earning program, faces 12+ years of payback on the institutional median.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $28,596 per year, totaling about $114,384 over four years.
Earnings by Major
Top 4 most popular majors at Texas Lutheran University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $78,092 | B+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $68,991 | C+ |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $56,391 | D |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $58,187 | 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.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing is TLU's clear ROI leader: 105 graduates, $68,974 year-one, $78,092 year-four, ROI grade B+, debt-to-earnings ratio 0.341. Median debt of $23,528 against year-one earnings of nearly $69k is workable. Texas nursing demand is strong, and San Antonio's large healthcare system provides employment for TLU's nursing graduates. This program accounts for the largest graduate volume among TLU's programs with reported data.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration has 78 graduates earning $48,432 year-one and $68,991 year-four, ROI grade C+, debt-to-earnings 0.537. Median debt of $26,000 against $48k starting salary is a stretched ratio.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology and Exercise Science has 36 graduates earning $30,607 year-one and $56,391 year-four, ROI grade D, debt-to-earnings 0.882. Median debt of $27,000 against year-one earnings of $30k is a financially difficult position. The gap between year-one ($30k) and year-four ($56k) suggests that many of these graduates are pursuing graduate study in physical therapy, athletic training, or related fields before entering better-paying positions - but those graduate degrees add additional cost and time. Students should weigh this path carefully at a private institution's price.
Teacher Education, Subject-Specific
Teacher Education has 23 graduates earning $48,266 year-one and $58,187 year-four, ROI grade C, debt-to-earnings 0.559. Texas teacher salaries have improved in recent years. Median debt of $27,000 against $48k starting salary is manageable but not comfortable. Students pursuing education at TLU are paying private tuition for a career with salary structures set by Texas school districts.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 71.1% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 80.3% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 72.9% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 72.6% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Texas Lutheran 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 | 95.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,304 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 34.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,741 |
At 95.7% acceptance with no reported test score ranges, TLU is effectively open enrollment. Families should weigh the open-access admissions policy against the financial commitment.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Lutheran University (this school) | 45 | $24,654 | $53,863 |
| Abilene Christian University | 51 | $26,182 | $55,736 |
| Concordia University-Chicago | 49 | $18,436 | $54,089 |
| University of Northwestern-St Paul | 47 | $27,705 | $50,755 |
| William Jessup University | 45 | $28,062 | $56,257 |
| Arlington Baptist University | 14 | $24,906 | $44,644 |
Who Thrives Here
TLU admits 95.7% of applicants and does not report SAT or ACT score ranges, indicating an effectively open-access admissions policy for a private institution. At 1,304 undergraduates, it is a small Christian liberal arts university in Seguin, Texas (between San Antonio and Austin). TLU fits students who want a faith-integrated education in a small campus environment and who have a specific vocational goal - nursing in particular - that the school supports with decent program infrastructure. Students seeking broad program options, strong graduate school pipelines, or access to a large alumni network should look elsewhere. The 53.9% completion rate is a warning that a meaningful share of enrolled students do not find success here.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Texas Lutheran University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $24,654 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $53,863 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 12.6 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: weak earnings relative to cost, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65 (median across the schools we score: 0.61).
Median debt of $25,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $38,600 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.
Texas Lutheran University: Common Questions
Is Texas Lutheran University worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Texas Lutheran University scores 45/100 on our ROI scale. At $24,654 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $53,863 ten years after entry, so it takes about 12.6 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Texas Lutheran 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 $24,654 a year, or roughly $98,616 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 Texas Lutheran University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $53,863 ten years after enrolling, roughly $12,063 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 Texas Lutheran 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 12.6 years for Texas Lutheran University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Texas Lutheran University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,000, against average earnings of $38,600 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 Texas Lutheran University?
The six-year graduation rate is 53.8%. 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.