Waynesburg University
Waynesburg, Pennsylvania · Private Nonprofit · 89.8% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 66/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Waynesburg University scores 66 (Fair Value) on the CampusROI scale. Average 6-year earnings of $43,800 against a $18,235 net price produce a 9-year payback and a 0.616 debt-to-earnings ratio. The repayment rate of 83.2% at three years is above average. Waynesburg is a Presbyterian-affiliated university in southwestern Pennsylvania, enrollment 1,009. The net price of $18,235 is low for a private institution with $30,480 sticker tuition, reflecting significant aid impact. Registered Nursing (68 graduates, $71,208 year-one, ROI grade B) is the top program. Business Administration (10 graduates, $43,209 year-one, ROI grade C) and Teacher Education (4 graduates, ROI grade C) are the next largest programs with available earnings data. Criminal Justice (35 graduates, $37,582 year-one, ROI grade D) has the largest graduate cohort after nursing. Communication (8 graduates, $29,070 year-one, ROI grade D) is the weakest performer.
Waynesburg University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $30,480/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $30,480/yr |
| Average net price | $18,235/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $72,940 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $58,537 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $43,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 65.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,009 |
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: $30,480/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $18,235/year, or roughly $72,940 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 $12,916/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $27,921/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 ($43,800) and comes to 0.62, 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 | $12,916 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $11,974 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $14,786 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $19,300 |
| $110,001+ | $27,921 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 bracket pays $12,916 per year at Waynesburg. Four-year cost around $51,700 against $43,800 in average 6-year earnings is a workable equation, particularly for nursing students who earn $71k immediately. Low-income families willing to commit to nursing have a strong financial path here.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $14,786, and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $19,300. The 9-year institutional payback period is acceptable at these net prices for nursing graduates.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $27,921 per year. Nursing students at full pay still have a strong financial case.
Earnings by Major
Top 8 most popular majors at Waynesburg University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $79,037 | B |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $51,781 | D |
| Psychology | $48,163 | C |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $61,457 | C |
| Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment | $59,160 | C+ |
| Communication and Media Studies | $45,152 | D |
| Biology | $55,691 | C+ |
| Teacher Education | $42,769 | C |
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
Registered Nursing is Waynesburg's anchor: 68 graduates, $71,208 year-one, $79,037 at year four, ROI grade B, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.379 with $27,000 median debt. Starting at $71k with $27k in debt at a private institution with an $18,235 net price is a favorable financial outcome. Regional healthcare employment in the southwestern Pennsylvania market is strong. Nursing at Waynesburg represents the institution's best financial case.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice is the second-largest program at 35 graduates with a D ROI grade: $37,582 year-one, $51,781 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.718 with $27,000 median debt. Year-one earnings of $37k against $27k in debt is a marginal outcome, particularly at a private institution.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration produces 10 graduates with $43,209 year-one and $61,457 at year four, C ROI grade, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.625 with $27,000 median debt. The small cohort of 10 graduates limits statistical confidence.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 81.7% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 83.2% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 77.4% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 80.3% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Waynesburg University’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 | 89.8% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 460-620 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 470-630 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 19-23 |
| Enrollment | 1,009 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 38.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,739 |
Waynesburg admits 89.8% of applicants. SAT 460-620 Math and 470-630 Reading and ACT 19-23 describe a broad academic range. Admission is broadly accessible. The 65.5% completion rate indicates some attrition from the entering class; students should seek institutional retention resources before enrolling.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waynesburg University (this school) | 66 | $18,235 | $58,537 |
| Mount Saint Mary College | 67 | $25,522 | $67,705 |
| College of Saint Benedict | 66 | $26,640 | $63,260 |
| Baker University | 65 | $25,301 | $63,855 |
| Albright College | 56 | $20,024 | $58,700 |
| Bryn Athyn College of the New Church | 34 | $20,586 | $40,457 |
Who Thrives Here
Waynesburg admits 89.8% of applicants. SAT mid-ranges are 460-620 Math and 470-630 Reading; ACT composite 19-23. Enrollment is 1,009. The Pell grant rate of 38.2% indicates substantial low- and moderate-income enrollment. The low net price of $18,235 makes Waynesburg genuinely affordable for families in the region. The ACT 25th percentile of 19 suggests the academic profile is broad, and strong academic support matters for retention.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Waynesburg University is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $18,235 a year after aid ($72,940 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $58,537 a decade out, the cost takes about 9 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $27,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $43,800 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.62, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Waynesburg University: Common Questions
Is Waynesburg University worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Waynesburg University is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 66/100 on our ROI scale. At $18,235 a year after aid ($72,940 over four years) against $58,537 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 9 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Waynesburg University 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 $18,235 a year, or roughly $72,940 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 Waynesburg University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $58,537 ten years after enrolling, roughly $16,737 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 Waynesburg University?
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 9 years for Waynesburg University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Waynesburg University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $27,000, against average earnings of $43,800 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.62. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Waynesburg University?
The six-year graduation rate is 65.5%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (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.