University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne, Indiana · Private Nonprofit · 96.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 50/100 · Below Average Value
University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne earns a CampusROI score of 50 (Below Average Value tier). Sticker tuition is $36,460 against a net price of $18,196 -- a 50% institutional discount typical of Catholic private nonprofits. Median earnings six years after entry are $36,200, climbing to $55,362 at ten years, with a 10.5-year payback period (subscore 59). The earnings premium subscore of 62 (raw 0.28) is the school's brightest signal -- graduates do earn meaningfully more than baseline, driven heavily by the strong nursing pipeline. Completion is 55% (subscore 50) and three-year repayment is 70.9% (subscore 42), both middling. The drag on the score is debt-to-earnings: $25,976 in median debt against $36,200 in earnings produces a 0.718 ratio (subscore 25). Saint Francis enrolls 1,567 students with a 43.9% Pell rate, indicating a meaningfully lower-income population. The school's Franciscan mission focuses on healthcare professions, and the nursing program (103 graduates per year at $74K year-one earnings) is the value-driving asset.
University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $36,460/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $36,460/yr |
| Average net price | $18,196/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $72,784 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $55,362 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $36,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,976 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $275 |
| Estimated payback period | 10.5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 55.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,567 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne is $36,460/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $18,196/year, or roughly $72,784 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $12,720/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $24,373/year.
The median graduate leaves with $25,976 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $275 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $55,362 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.72 - 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 | $12,720 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $12,392 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $15,525 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $21,248 |
| $110,001+ | $24,373 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning $0-30,000 pay $12,720 per year, totaling about $50,880 over four years. The 30-48K bracket pays slightly less ($12,392) -- a typical pattern. With $36,200 in early-career earnings and the strong nursing track available, Pell-eligible students who complete see workable ROI. The institutional aid commitment is meaningful for this population.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-75,000) pay $15,525 per year, about $62,100 over four years. With $55,362 in ten-year median earnings, middle-bracket students see solid ROI especially in nursing or business tracks where year-one earnings clear $50K. The Catholic-college environment adds non-financial value for fit students.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $24,373 per year -- about $97,492 over four years. At this price point, full-pay families should weigh Saint Francis against Indiana University and Ball State for similar nursing pipelines at lower cost. The Franciscan mission and small-college environment are the value-adds; the financial ROI math gets tighter at full pay.
Earnings by Major
Top 9 most popular majors at University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $81,680 | B |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $46,695 | C |
| Visual and Performing Arts | $27,684 | D |
| Biology | $72,008 | B |
| Social Work | $43,989 | - |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $36,684 | - |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $70,794 | - |
| Music | $31,373 | - |
| Design and Applied Arts | $40,619 | 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 Saint Francis's flagship program and the school's clearest ROI standout. With 103 graduates per year, year-one earnings of $74,478 climbing to $81,680 at year four, and median debt of $30,849, the program produces a 0.414 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B ROI grade. Fort Wayne's regional hospital networks (Parkview, Lutheran) absorb most graduates with strong starting wages. The scale of this program (103 grads against the school's 1,567 enrollment) shapes the institution's overall ROI position.
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
Allied Health produces 26 graduates per year with year-one earnings of $38,878 and four-year earnings of $46,695. Median debt of $27,000 yields a 0.694 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C ROI grade. The program funnels students into radiology techs, respiratory therapy, and other regional healthcare-support roles -- stable wages but more modest than nursing's RN pipeline.
Biology
Biology produces 13 graduates per year with four-year median earnings of $72,008 and median debt of just $27,000, yielding a 0.375 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B ROI grade -- strong fundamentals. Year-one earnings aren't reported, but the four-year figure suggests successful placement into medical/PA/pharmacy programs or graduate research roles. The Franciscan mission's emphasis on health professions clearly extends to bio.
Visual and Performing Arts
Visual and Performing Arts produces 15 graduates per year with year-one earnings of $27,684. Median debt of $27,000 produces a 0.975 debt-to-earnings ratio and a D ROI grade. The arts-economy wage compression is real here; Saint Francis's strong art programs build creative skill, but the financial outcomes for bachelor's-level arts graduates remain structurally difficult.
Design and Applied Arts
Design and Applied Arts produces 4 graduates per year -- a very small program -- with year-one earnings of $35,439 and four-year earnings of $40,619. Median debt of $27,000 produces a 0.762 debt-to-earnings ratio and a D ROI grade. The small graduate count makes individual outcomes vary widely; the field's typical wage compression applies here as elsewhere.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 65.0% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 70.9% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 68.4% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 73.0% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 96.0% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 430-530 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 440-540 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 17-24 |
| Enrollment | 1,567 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 43.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,265 |
Saint Francis admits 96% of applicants -- essentially open access. SAT 25-75 mid-ranges are 430-530 math and 440-540 reading, with ACT 25-75 of 17-24 -- modest test scores reflecting a broad academic profile. The combination of near-universal admission with 55% completion shows the regional-Catholic-college pattern: open admission, moderate retention, with completion serving as the binding constraint. Prepared students who finish, particularly in nursing, see strong wage outcomes.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Saint Francis's peer set includes Anderson University-IN, Bethel University-IN, Grand View University, Southern Nazarene University, and University of Northwestern-St. Paul. These are mid-Midwest faith-affiliated colleges with similar mission profiles. Anderson and Bethel are direct Indiana peers, both typically scoring in the same Below Average to Fair Value range. Grand View, Southern Nazarene, and Northwestern-St. Paul share the Christian-college mission profile. Saint Francis's 50 ROI score is mid-pack for this cohort; the strong nursing pipeline gives it a slight edge over arts/humanities-heavy peers.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne (this school) | 50 | $18,196 | $55,362 |
| Southern Nazarene University | 55 | $22,084 | $54,951 |
| Grand View University | 48 | $21,774 | $52,824 |
| University of Northwestern-St Paul | 47 | $27,705 | $50,755 |
| Bethel University | 34 | $18,610 | $48,860 |
| Anderson University | 32 | $25,021 | $48,899 |
Who Thrives Here
Saint Francis fits students seeking a Franciscan-Catholic education in northeast Indiana at small-college scale (1,567 students). The 43.9% Pell rate signals a heavily lower-income population. Strong-fit students are those targeting the nursing or allied-health programs, where year-one earnings (nursing at $74K) make the financing math comfortably workable. For students in arts or design, the wage outcomes weaken substantially, and the school's value proposition narrows. The Catholic-mission framework appeals to faith-aligned students and families.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The financial case for University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne is mixed. At $18,196 per year net cost, graduates earn a median of $55,362 ten years after entry - a payback period of 10.5 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.
Areas of concern include high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates.
Median debt of $25,976 against $55,362 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.