Warner University
Lake Wales, Florida · Private Nonprofit · 42.8% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 28/100 · Poor Value
Warner University, a small Christian liberal-arts school in Lake Wales, Florida, scores 28 on ROI and lands in the Poor Value tier. The diagnostic numbers tell a difficult story: median earnings six years after entry are $35,500, climbing to $46,086 at ten years, while median debt of $22,250 generates a 0.627 debt-to-earnings ratio and a 19.8-year payback period. The lowest sub-score is repayment -- only 49% of borrowers are paying down principal at three years (score of 8), suggesting widespread payment struggles. Sticker tuition is $29,992 with a net price of $19,748 and four-year total cost near $79,000. The 42.1% completion rate means more than half of entering students do not finish a degree -- a major drag on outcomes given that non-completers still typically owe debt. The earnings premium is real but slim at 14%, and the combination of weak completion, weak repayment, and a near-20-year payback puts the financial case for Warner under significant pressure. Faith-driven student fit matters here more than the pure ROI numbers.
The data raises concerns about Warner University
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score28/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Payback period19.8 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Warner University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $29,992/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $29,992/yr |
| Average net price | $19,748/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $78,992 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $46,086 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $35,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,250 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $236 |
| Estimated payback period | 19.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 42.1% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 756 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Warner University is $29,992/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $19,748/year, or roughly $78,992 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $17,853/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $23,060/year.
The median graduate leaves with $22,250 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $236 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $46,086 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.63 - 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 | $17,853 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $18,884 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $21,526 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $18,958 |
| $110,001+ | $23,060 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $17,853 net -- $1,895 below the average. Four-year cost lands near $71,400, against $46,086 in 10-year median earnings. The Pell-heavy student body keeps net price moderate but doesn't change the underlying earnings ceiling. The math is workable only if the student finishes a degree and lands in a higher-paying program track.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-$75,000) pay $21,526 -- the highest of any bracket, exceeding the $75,001-$110,000 bracket's $18,958. This is an inverted-bracket anomaly: aid drops mid-range and then recovers slightly in the upper-middle band, likely due to small sample sizes. Four-year cost at $86,000 against the same earnings ceiling is a hard sell.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $23,060 -- the second-highest tier. Four-year cost is $92,200. Above $75K, net price actually drops slightly compared to mid-income families (likely small-sample variance), so the $110K+ figure is the truest sticker exposure. For high-income families this is a values-driven full-pay decision.
Earnings by Major
Top 5 most popular majors at Warner University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $55,458 | D |
| Teacher Education | $48,819 | C |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $44,995 | D |
| Agriculture, General | $56,429 | C+ |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $54,179 | B |
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 the largest program with 33 graduates earning $37,841 in year one and $55,458 by year four. Median debt of $30,750 -- elevated relative to peers -- produces a 0.813 debt-to-earnings ratio and D grade. Florida small-business and church-affiliated nonprofit roles absorb most graduates; the high debt load is the main drag on outcomes.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education produces 21 graduates with $38,856 first-year earnings rising to $48,819 by year four, against $24,814 median debt (0.639 ratio, C grade). Florida teacher pay sits below the national median, but PSLF eligibility and steady district demand make this a defensible regional path. Manageable debt and stable employment compensate for modest pay.
Agriculture, General
Agriculture is the strongest program: $44,154 year-one earnings, $56,429 by year four, $22,250 debt for a 0.504 ratio and C+ grade. Fourteen graduates feed Central Florida's agribusiness sector (citrus, livestock, nursery), where Warner's location in Lake Wales offers genuine industry proximity. This is the program most likely to deliver positive ROI.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology has the weakest outcomes: $28,512 in year one, $44,995 by year four, with $26,995 debt for a 0.947 ratio and D grade. Sixteen graduates -- a small cohort -- face the same national kinesiology problem: bachelor's-only pay is low, and the program is really a pre-grad-school feeder. Students should plan on PT, OT, or DPT continuation, not direct workforce entry.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 43.5% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 49.0% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 48.9% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 55.6% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 42.8% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 380-530 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 410-540 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 14-20 |
| Enrollment | 756 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 50.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $5,033 |
Warner admits 42.8% of applicants -- moderately selective on paper. But the SAT mid-ranges (Math 380-530, Reading 410-540) and ACT 14-20 are notably below national averages, suggesting selectivity comes from yield management and program capacity rather than academic gating. The 42.1% completion rate maps to that profile: when entering students arrive with lower academic preparation, persistence suffers. Students who arrive academically prepared with a clear faith-and-career fit should complete; underprepared students face real non-completion risk.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
The peer set is uneven: Baptist University of Florida is a true comparable -- a small FL Christian liberal-arts school -- and tends to track similar middling ROI numbers. Barry University is larger, more diverse, and more health-professions-oriented (substantially better outcomes). Be'er Yaakov Talmudic Seminary and Bennington College are odd matches (yeshiva and elite progressive liberal-arts), while Drury's continuing-studies arm targets working adults. Against the closest peer (Baptist University of Florida), Warner's 28 score is roughly in band.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warner University (this school) | 28 | $19,748 | $46,086 |
| Barry University | 42 | $22,613 | $55,966 |
| Baptist University of Florida | 31 | $10,372 | $42,836 |
| Bennington College | 26 | $30,947 | $38,289 |
| Be'er Yaakov Talmudic Seminary | 25 | $4,543 | $17,360 |
| Drury University-College of Continuing Professional Studies | 24 | $10,566 | $40,694 |
Who Thrives Here
Warner fits Pell-eligible Florida students (50.9% Pell rate) drawn to a 756-student Christian liberal-arts environment. Best fit: future teachers, agriculture professionals, and pastoral or ministry-track students who value the school's Restoration Movement heritage. Outcomes look most defensible for the agriculture program (14 grads, B/C+ grade range). Students looking primarily for ROI without faith-mission alignment will find better cost-to-earnings math at Florida's public regionals (Florida Polytechnic, UWF, FGCU).
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Warner University. With a net cost of $19,748 per year and median graduate earnings of only $46,086 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 19.8 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 42.1% graduation rate and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $22,250 against $46,086 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.