University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, Texas · Private Nonprofit · 98.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 45/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of the Incarnate Word scores 45 (Below Average Value) on the CampusROI scale - a Catholic institution in San Antonio, TX with 4,440 enrolled undergraduates and a $37,090 sticker tuition discounted to a $22,775 net price. The score reflects a 10.6-year payback period, a 0.659 debt-to-earnings ratio, a 51.0% completion rate, and a repayment rate of 58.3% at 7 years - fewer than 3 in 5 borrowers making progress on their debt. Nursing is the institution's dominant strength: 145 graduates, $64,720 year-one, $84,286 at year four, grade B. Business Administration (171 grads, $46,092 year-one) earns C. Communication and Media Studies (28 grads, $17,048 year-one, debt-to-earnings 1.584) earns F. Biology (72 grads, $23,270 year-one, debt-to-earnings 1.160) and Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (53 grads, $22,919 year-one, debt-to-earnings 1.052) both earn F grades, and together these three programs represent 153 graduates. The Scorecard does not report standardized test score ranges for UIW. The 51.0% completion rate means roughly half of students do not finish.
University of the Incarnate Word
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $37,090/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $37,090/yr |
| Average net price | $22,775/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $91,100 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $56,733 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $41,000 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 10.6 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 51.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 4,440 |
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: $37,090/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $22,775/year, or roughly $91,100 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 $19,260/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $31,539/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $27,000, which works out to about $286 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($41,000) and comes to 0.66, 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 | $19,260 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $19,487 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $21,950 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $25,084 |
| $110,001+ | $31,539 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $19,260 per year at UIW. The 30001-48000 bracket pays $19,487, nearly flat. For low-income students, the 51.0% completion rate and 58.3% repayment rate are the primary warning signals - borrowing $19,000 per year at a school where half of students don't finish creates serious risk. Nursing students from this income bracket who complete the program face much better odds.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $21,950 at UIW, rising to $25,084 for the 75001-110000 bracket. The step increases are gradual. Middle-income families considering UIW should be clear about which program their student is entering: nursing at $22,000 per year net is worth evaluating; biology or communication at the same price, given the F-grade outcomes, is not. The San Antonio location provides some labor market advantage in healthcare, but limited advantage for business or communications graduates.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $31,539 per year at UIW, totaling roughly $126,000 over four years. Nursing ($64,720 year-one) is the exception.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of the Incarnate Word with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $64,692 | C |
| Registered Nursing | $84,286 | B |
| Psychology | $51,470 | D |
| Biology | $50,389 | F |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $58,059 | F |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $54,097 | D |
| Human Resources Management | $72,061 | C |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $60,839 | D |
| Design and Applied Arts | $48,472 | D |
| Communication and Media Studies | $39,660 | F |
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 UIW's defining program by both volume and outcomes: 145 graduates, $64,720 year-one, $84,286 at year four, grade B on $27,574 debt. Year-one earnings of $64,720 reflect San Antonio's healthcare wages, which are competitive for a major Texas metro. The four-year trajectory to $84,286 shows solid advancement. For nursing students specifically, UIW at a $22,775 net price represents a defensible financial proposition.
Biology
Biology earns an F grade: 72 graduates, $23,270 year-one, $50,389 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.160 on $27,000 median debt. Year-one earnings of $23,270 represent less than the debt burden in a single year. The $50,389 year-four figure shows the field stabilizes over time - many UIW biology graduates are likely in graduate or professional health programs by year four - but the year-one financial position is severely constrained. Biology at UIW is primarily a pre-professional pipeline, not a standalone career credential. Students need to enter with a clear plan for medical, dental, or graduate school admission.
Communication and Media Studies
Communication and Media Studies earns an F grade: 28 graduates, $17,048 year-one, $39,660 at year four, debt-to-earnings 1.584 on $27,000 median debt. The year-one median is $17,048. Communication graduates at UIW face a first year of substantially constrained finances relative to their debt obligations. Students interested in communications should examine whether this program provides meaningful career preparation and placement.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 50.9% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 58.3% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 56.9% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 61.8% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of the Incarnate Word’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 | 98.1% |
| Enrollment | 4,440 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 44.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,001 |
UIW's 98.1% admission rate is near-open enrollment. No standardized test score ranges are reported. With admission this accessible, the relevant evaluation is not whether a student can get in but whether the academic support infrastructure can get them through - the 51.0% completion rate indicates significant structural challenges. Students targeting nursing should inquire about the program's internal capacity, prerequisites, and NCLEX pass rates.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
UIW's ROI is 45.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of the Incarnate Word (this school) | 45 | $22,775 | $56,733 |
| Abilene Christian University | 51 | $26,182 | $55,736 |
| Park University | 50 | $21,032 | $56,309 |
| University of Hartford | 49 | $30,282 | $60,823 |
| National Louis University | 40 | $12,641 | $45,799 |
| Arlington Baptist University | 14 | $24,906 | $44,644 |
Who Thrives Here
UIW admits 98.1% of applicants - functionally open enrollment. The Scorecard does not report SAT or ACT score ranges for this institution. With 4,440 enrolled undergraduates and a 44.6% Pell grant rate, UIW serves a predominantly working-class and first-generation student body in the San Antonio market. The Catholic Incarnate Word tradition shapes campus culture. The institution has grown its healthcare programs substantially, and nursing is the clear financial rationale for enrollment. Students considering UIW for any program outside nursing should evaluate program-level outcomes carefully - the institutional aggregate ROI of 45 masks wide variation between nursing (grade B) and several programs producing F grades.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for University of the Incarnate Word is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $22,775 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $56,733 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 10.6 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: its 51.0% graduation rate, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 58.3% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $27,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $41,000 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66. 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.
University of the Incarnate Word: Common Questions
Is University of the Incarnate Word worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. University of the Incarnate Word scores 45/100 on our ROI scale. At $22,775 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $56,733 ten years after entry, so it takes about 10.6 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does University of the Incarnate Word 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 $22,775 a year, or roughly $91,100 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 University of the Incarnate Word graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $56,733 ten years after enrolling, roughly $14,933 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 University of the Incarnate Word?
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 10.6 years for University of the Incarnate Word. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of the Incarnate Word graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $27,000, against average earnings of $41,000 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66. 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 University of the Incarnate Word?
The six-year graduation rate is 51.0%. 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.