Texas Wesleyan University
Fort Worth, Texas · Private Nonprofit · 69.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 37/100 · Poor Value
Texas Wesleyan University, a private Methodist-affiliated nonprofit in Fort Worth, posts a Poor Value ROI score of 37/100. The numbers underscore a familiar small-private problem: sticker tuition of $39,582 is heavily discounted to a $24,066 net price, but four-year all-in cost still lands at $96,264 - and median earnings six years after entry are just $38,200, climbing to $54,053 at ten years. Completion is the biggest drag: only 31.5% of students finish, a low figure that pushes the overall score down sharply. Payback period is 12.4 years and debt-to-earnings is 0.605 - both manageable but not strong. The repayment rate of 55.3% signals that more than four in ten borrowers are not making progress on principal seven years out, a meaningful financial-distress flag. The earnings premium over high-school grads is 19.8%, modest. Texas Wesleyan does have a few specific program bright spots (accounting, bilingual education, finance) where the math works, but the institution-wide picture suggests prospective students should think carefully about whether they will be in the 31% that finishes and whether their target program clears the C-plus ROI grade threshold.
The data raises concerns about Texas Wesleyan University
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score37/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- 6-year graduation rate31.5% - Well below the 60% national average. Non-completion is the fastest route to negative ROI.
Texas Wesleyan University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $39,582/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $39,582/yr |
| Average net price | $24,066/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $96,264 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $54,053 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $38,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,125 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $245 |
| Estimated payback period | 12.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 31.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,741 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Texas Wesleyan University is $39,582/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $24,066/year, or roughly $96,264 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $21,812/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $31,090/year.
The median graduate leaves with $23,125 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $245 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $54,053 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.60 - 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 | $21,812 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $22,876 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $25,687 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $27,699 |
| $110,001+ | $31,090 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $21,812 per year net - aid helps, but the absolute price is still significant given $38,200 median earnings. Four-year cost is $87,248. The $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $22,876. For Pell-eligible families, a hard look at Texas public alternatives is warranted before committing.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income households ($48,001-$110,000) pay $25,687 to $27,699 per year. Four-year cost runs $102,000-$111,000. At those prices, the institutional ROI case requires either a strong program match (accounting, finance, bilingual ed) or a non-financial rationale around the Methodist mission and small-classroom experience.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $31,090 per year - still discounted from sticker but approaching it. Four-year cost is $124,360. Texas Wesleyan does not offer the financial profile that justifies private-tuition prices for high-income families absent a clear mission fit.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Texas Wesleyan University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $46,737 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $62,016 | C |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $54,415 | C |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $49,909 | C |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $62,298 | D |
| Accounting | $71,296 | C+ |
| Finance and Financial Management | $66,248 | C+ |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $34,209 | C |
| Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education | $60,830 | C+ |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $58,868 | 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.
Accounting
Accounting (17 grads) is the strongest program - $59,399 first-year earnings, $71,296 at four years, $31,000 debt, and a 0.522 debt-to-earnings ratio earning a C+ ROI grade. The Fort Worth and broader DFW accounting labor market is strong, and Texas Wesleyan's program feeds into it credibly. One of the few institutional bets that holds up financially.
Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education
Bilingual education (10 grads) posts $56,738 first-year earnings, $60,830 at four years, $26,500 debt, and a 0.467 debt-to-earnings ratio - a C+ ROI grade. Texas's bilingual teacher shortage drives the strong starting salary; the relatively flat four-year curve reflects the public-school salary schedule. Solid niche play.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
General business (29 grads) earns $40,117 at year one and $62,016 at year four, with $22,250 debt and a 0.555 debt-to-earnings ratio - a C ROI grade. The four-year earnings ramp is respectable, but the first-year figure is soft and the overall outcomes are middle-of-pack.
Psychology
Psychology is the largest soft-major cohort at 30 graduates with weak outcomes: $27,981 first-year earnings, $46,737 at four years, $24,562 debt, and a 0.878 debt-to-earnings ratio earning a D ROI grade. Standard psychology-undergrad problem - earnings ceiling without graduate study. Consider this a feeder to therapy or counseling masters, not a terminal credential.
Marketing
Marketing (8 grads) earns only $28,332 at year one rising to $55,615 at year four, with $23,000 debt and a 0.812 debt-to-earnings ratio - a D ROI grade. The first-year earnings are unusually low for a marketing major and suggest weak placement support in the local DFW market. Better marketing-degree options exist nearby.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 48.3% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 55.3% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 52.7% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 58.3% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 69.2% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 520-580 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 500-520 |
| Enrollment | 1,741 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 44.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,367 |
Texas Wesleyan admits 69.16% of applicants - moderately selective but accessible to most prepared Texas students. SAT mid-ranges are 520-580 math and 500-520 reading, mainstream regional-private numbers, with ACT not reported. The relatively narrow reading-score band suggests a fairly homogeneous applicant pool. The 31% completion rate paired with moderate selectivity suggests that academic preparation is not the chief retention problem - more likely a mix of financial pressure and life-circumstance attrition.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Scorecard peers include Abilene Christian University, Arlington Baptist University, Felician University (NJ), Springfield College (MA), and United Talmudical Seminary. Abilene Christian is the most direct Texas comparison and posts materially better completion and earnings metrics. Among the broader peer set, Texas Wesleyan's 37 ROI sits near the middle - better than Arlington Baptist or the seminaries, but trailing the more established faith-affiliated privates.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Wesleyan University (this school) | 37 | $24,066 | $54,053 |
| Abilene Christian University | 51 | $26,182 | $55,736 |
| Felician University | 40 | $40,045 | $57,602 |
| Springfield College | 36 | $30,587 | $48,036 |
| United Talmudical Seminary | 36 | $6,640 | $25,113 |
| Arlington Baptist University | 14 | $24,906 | $44,644 |
Who Thrives Here
Texas Wesleyan enrolls 1,741 students with a 44.7% Pell rate, indicating a heavily working-class urban Fort Worth student body. The school fits a first-generation Texas student seeking a small-classroom Methodist-affiliated experience, particularly one targeting accounting, bilingual education, or finance where program-specific outcomes are workable. Students considering psychology, marketing, or general management should weigh those D-grade outcomes against UT Arlington, North Texas, or other nearby public options.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Texas Wesleyan University. With a net cost of $24,066 per year and median graduate earnings of only $54,053 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 12.4 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 31.5% graduation rate and concerning loan repayment rates.
Median debt of $23,125 against $54,053 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.