Dakota Wesleyan University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Dakota Wesleyan University charges a net price of $19,735/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $78,940. Graduates earn a median $53,728 ten years after entry, $5,368/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 14.7 years — a 20-year net return of $28,420, a slow but positive payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Dakota Wesleyan University's 14.7-year payback ranks #954 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 26% of them, and #6 of 17 in South Dakota.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $19,735/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $78,940 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $53,728 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $5,368/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $27,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 14.7 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $28,420 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Dakota Wesleyan University's own numbers. Net price $19,735 × 4 years = $78,940 total. Median earnings $53,728 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $5,368 a year of premium. $78,940 ÷ $5,368 = 14.7 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $28,420. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Dakota Wesleyan University students graduate with?
A median $27,000 in federal loans among completers, or 50% of the $53,728 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Dakota Wesleyan University students graduate?
48% finish their degree — 52% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $78,940 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $164,458 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Dakota Wesleyan University expensive compared with other South Dakota colleges?
Its $19,735 net price runs $0 above the $19,735 median across the 17 South Dakota colleges we profile, or $0 more across the full degree.