Welch College
Gallatin, Tennessee · Private Nonprofit
ROI Score: 23/100 · Poor Value
Welch College scores 23 (Poor Value) on the CampusROI scale — a small Free Will Baptist institution in Gallatin, TN with 226 enrolled students. The score reflects a 33.5-year payback period, a 0.744 debt-to-earnings ratio, a 53.4% completion rate, and median 6-year earnings of just $26,200. The 33.5-year payback period is among the worst in this dataset: at that trajectory, borrowers are repaying debt for over three decades, assuming they ever close the gap between what they earned and what they borrowed. The repayment rate compounds this concern — only 44.2% of borrowers were making progress on their debt at one year, with volatility through year seven. Net price of $25,263 is higher than sticker tuition of $21,400, which indicates that the Scorecard is capturing all cost-of-attendance components and that aid does not offset the total bill. The Scorecard does not report program-level data for Welch — there are no individual major outcomes to examine. Admission rate is also not reported. Welch's institutional profile is that of a Bible college-adjacent institution serving a very specific denominational applicant pool, and the financial data reflects the earnings limitations of that mission's typical career paths: ministry, education, and related service fields.
The data raises concerns about Welch College
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score23/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Payback period33.5 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Welch College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $21,400/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $21,400/yr |
| Average net price | $25,263/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $101,052 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $42,198 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $26,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $19,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $207 |
| Estimated payback period | 33.5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 53.4% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 226 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Welch College is $21,400/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $25,263/year, or roughly $101,052 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $25,590/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $27,512/year.
The median graduate leaves with $19,500 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $207 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $42,198 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.74 - 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 | $25,590 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $18,289 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $23,219 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $26,783 |
| $110,001+ | $27,512 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $25,590 per year at Welch — a figure higher than the sticker tuition of $21,400, indicating that room, board, and fees push the all-in cost well above tuition alone, and that institutional aid is not sufficient to reduce the net price for the lowest-income students. This is a concerning finding: low-income students at Welch are paying more in net price than students in some income brackets above them. The 30001-48000 bracket pays $18,289, substantially less. Low-income families should carefully compare total costs before enrolling.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $23,219 per year, higher than the $18,289 paid by the bracket below it — the aid schedule at Welch is not monotonically decreasing with income, which creates anomalous results for middle-income families. The 75001-110000 bracket pays $26,783. At $26,200 in median 6-year earnings, no income bracket faces a favorable payback period at these net prices. The 33.5-year payback period is calculated at the institutional median level and implies that even at the lowest net price point, recovery of education costs relative to earnings premium takes decades.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $27,512 per year at Welch, totaling roughly $110,000 over four years. At $26,200 median 6-year earnings, full-pay attendance at Welch produces a deeply unfavorable financial outcome by any standard metric. Families in this income bracket who are considering Welch for a student's ministry or religious calling should treat the decision as a charitable investment in vocational training, not as a conventional ROI calculation — because by conventional metrics, the numbers do not close.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
No program-level data available
The Scorecard does not report program-level earnings, debt, or graduate counts for Welch College. No individual major outcomes can be assessed. The institutional-level data — $26,200 median 6-year earnings, $19,500 median debt, 33.5-year payback — reflects the full graduate population across all programs, which likely skews heavily toward ministry, Biblical studies, and education. Students planning careers in these fields should not expect high earnings relative to debt, and should enter with realistic expectations about the long-term financial trajectory that comes with this combination of cost and typical career paths.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 44.2% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 69.8% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 52.8% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 62.9% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Enrollment | 226 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 28.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $4,449 |
The Scorecard does not report admission rate or standardized test score ranges for Welch College. Given the institution's size (226 enrolled) and denominational affiliation, admission is likely open or near-open for applicants who align with the Free Will Baptist mission. Prospective students should contact the institution directly for admissions requirements and expectations. The completion rate of 53.4% is the more relevant benchmark than selectivity — understanding what supports students through to graduation matters more here than entry credentials.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Welch's Scorecard peer schools are American Baptist College, Baptist Health Sciences University, Cottey College, Dallas Christian College, and Northland College — a grouping of small faith-affiliated and specialized institutions. Welch's ROI score of 23 places it near the bottom of this peer group. Baptist Health Sciences University, despite sharing a denominational context, produces substantially better outcomes through its healthcare-focused curriculum. Dallas Christian College is a closer peer in mission and market. For prospective students evaluating Welch against alternatives, the most relevant comparison is not financial return but the specific denominational training and community that Welch provides — there is no comparable alternative on pure financial grounds because the financial case for Welch is not the reason students attend.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welch College (this school) | 23 | $25,263 | $42,198 |
| Baptist Health Sciences University | 69 | $11,212 | $72,529 |
| American Baptist College | 32 | $9,216 | $41,216 |
| Cottey College | 22 | $13,805 | $35,422 |
| Northland College | 21 | $36,119 | $44,560 |
| Dallas Christian College | 18 | $22,960 | $43,503 |
Who Thrives Here
Welch enrolls 226 students and serves a primarily Free Will Baptist constituency. The Pell grant rate of 28.2% indicates a moderate-income student body. Neither admission rate nor standardized test score ranges are reported by the Scorecard for this institution. The 53.4% completion rate means roughly half of enrolled students do not graduate. Prospective students who are considering Welch primarily for its theological and ministry training should understand clearly that the financial data — $26,200 median earnings 6 years after enrollment, a 33.5-year payback — reflects a population largely not pursuing high-earnings careers. The decision to attend is a mission and vocation decision more than a financial one, and should be evaluated on those terms.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Welch College. With a net cost of $25,263 per year and median graduate earnings of only $42,198 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 33.5 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $19,500 against $42,198 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
New analyses, updated school profiles, and tools - when there’s something worth acting on.
Rankings & Links
Guides & Tools
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.