Warner Pacific University
Portland, Oregon · Private Nonprofit · 71.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 43/100 · Poor Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Warner Pacific University earns a 43 ROI score and a Poor Value tier rating, a result driven by an unfortunate combination of a moderate sticker but high net price, modest earnings, and weak completion. Tuition is $22,220 with a net price of $25,629 - notably above sticker, reflecting how full COA (including Portland's housing costs) outstrips institutional aid. Four-year cost lands at $102,516. Median earnings six years out hit $43,000, climbing to $55,204 by year ten - producing a moderate 19.7 percent earnings premium and a 12-year payback period. Median debt of $25,000 against earnings produces a 0.581 debt-to-earnings ratio. The 49.2 percent completion rate is weak, and the 60.4 percent five-year repayment rate scores a particularly poor 18, signaling many borrowers struggle. Program-level data shows graduates earning reasonably well in business and health admin, but the heavy program-level debt loads (often $40K-$46K) drag ROI grades down. Warner Pacific is a small Christian-tradition urban university whose value math is structurally challenging.
The data raises concerns about Warner Pacific University
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score43/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
Warner Pacific University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $22,220/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $22,220/yr |
| Average net price | $25,629/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $102,516 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $55,204 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $43,000 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $265 |
| Estimated payback period | 12 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 49.2% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 375 |
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: $22,220/year. Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $25,629/year, or roughly $102,516 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 $18,577/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $32,393/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $25,000 in federal loans, which works out to about $265 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $55,204 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.58, within the range advisors call workable but worth keeping an eye on.
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 | $18,577 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $27,432 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $23,495 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $30,169 |
| $110,001+ | $32,393 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Lowest-income families pay $18,577 net annually - with the $30,001-$48,000 bracket actually paying significantly more at $27,432, a sharply inverted bracket structure worth flagging. The $48K-$75K tier drops to $23,495. This pattern suggests institutional aid policies vary significantly across income brackets in ways that disadvantage the lower-middle band. Pell-eligible students should investigate the specifics directly.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income brackets pay $27,432 ($30K-$48K) - the highest among middle-income tiers - $23,495 ($48K-$75K), and $30,169 ($75K-$110K). The non-monotonic pattern is unusual and confusing; families should run their personalized numbers through the school's calculator. Roughly $94K-$120K over four years is heavy against the school's modest earnings outcomes.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income families pay $32,393 net annually - approximately $130K over four years - nearly close to full sticker. With median 10-year earnings of $55,204, the math is exceptionally difficult to justify financially. Wealthier Oregon families would likely see better long-term value at any of the state's public universities or at George Fox with merit aid.
Earnings by Major
Top 5 most popular majors at Warner Pacific University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $31,903 | - |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $78,571 | D |
| Accounting | $77,653 | D |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $60,180 | D |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $58,518 | 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.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is Warner Pacific's largest program with 11 graduates, posting first-year earnings of $58,899 climbing to $78,571 by year four - legitimately strong outcomes. The problem is heavy program-level debt: median $44,059 against those earnings produces a 0.748 debt-to-earnings ratio and a D ROI grade. Students entering this program should aggressively minimize borrowing to convert these strong earnings into a positive ROI.
Accounting
Accounting graduates 3 students with $54,626 first-year and $77,653 four-year earnings. Median debt of $42,765 produces a 0.783 debt-to-earnings ratio and a D ROI grade. As with business, the earnings are reasonable but program-level debt is unusually heavy for these earnings levels. Students who can secure merit aid or external scholarships will see materially better outcomes than the headline grade suggests.
Health and Medical Administrative Services
Health Administration reports zero graduates in the most recent cohort but $56,031 first-year and $58,518 four-year earnings against median debt of $46,532 - producing a heavy 0.83 debt-to-earnings ratio and a D ROI grade. Career paths into Portland's healthcare administrative ecosystem are real but the debt drag is significant.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology graduates 15 students with $31,903 first-year earnings reported but four-year earnings, debt, and ROI grade not reported. Most strong career paths in this field require graduate study (PT, OT, athletic training); the bachelor's is best treated as a stepping-stone. Without firm four-year earnings data, students should compare carefully against state alternatives.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 52.9% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 60.4% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 57.7% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 66.4% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Warner Pacific University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2023).
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 | 71.1% |
| Enrollment | 375 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 47.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,822 |
Warner Pacific admits 71.1 percent of applicants - moderately accessible. SAT and ACT data are not reported in current Scorecard data, consistent with test-optional admissions. The 49.2 percent completion rate is concerning for a moderately selective private and reflects the challenges of serving a heavily working-adult and online-leaning student population in an urban setting. Prospective students should plan their academic and financial path with realistic completion expectations.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Warner Pacific's nearest peers include New Hope Christian College Eugene - another Oregon Christian school - alongside George Fox University, College of Biblical Studies Houston, Northwest University's online arm, and Boston Architectural College. George Fox is the most useful direct comparison and significantly outperforms Warner Pacific on most ROI dimensions. Within this peer set, Warner Pacific's 43 ROI score is mid-pack but lags meaningfully behind George Fox.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warner Pacific University (this school) | 43 | $25,629 | $55,204 |
| George Fox University | 57 | $31,679 | $59,761 |
| Northwest University-Center for Online and Extended Education | 44 | $35,671 | $54,914 |
| Boston Architectural College | 43 | $25,865 | $62,123 |
| College of Biblical Studies-Houston | 43 | $672 | $39,260 |
| New Hope Christian College-Eugene | 22 | $21,600 | $31,115 |
Who Thrives Here
Warner Pacific fits Portland-area students seeking a small Christian-affiliated university with a strong service-and-mission orientation. Enrollment is tiny at 375 undergraduates and Pell rate runs 47.9 percent - one of the higher Pell rates in our universe, reflecting a heavily working-class and minority-serving student body. Strongest student outcomes flow to business and health-admin graduates, although heavy program debt loads complicate the picture. Students should aggressively minimize borrowing and target career paths into Portland's healthcare and nonprofit sectors.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
We'll be straight with you: the numbers at Warner Pacific University are a real concern. With a net cost of $25,629 per year and the typical graduate earning only $55,204 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 12 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost - go in with your eyes open.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, its 49.2% graduation rate, concerning loan repayment rates.
Median debt of $25,000 against $55,204 in earnings is reasonable, though your major matters a lot here. Graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
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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.