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Drury University — ROI, Cost & Payback

Private nonprofit · Springfield, MO · 1,383 students

The verdict

Drury University charges a net price of $20,831/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $83,324. Median earnings ten years after entry are $40,694, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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On institution-wide earnings, Drury University does not clear its cost — it ranks #49 of 71 Missouri colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.

$20,831
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$40,694
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
Payback
Our math, 2026
58%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
Drury University: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$20,831/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$83,324our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$40,694Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline-$7,666/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$20,979Scorecard, 2026
Paybackdoes not clearour math
20-year net return-$236,644our math

College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.

The arithmetic, on Drury University's own numbers. Net price $20,831 × 4 years = $83,324 total. Median earnings $40,694 fall $7,666 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $83,324 bill in about 8.3 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.

How much debt do Drury University students graduate with?

A median $20,979 in federal loans among completers, or 52% of the $40,694 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.

What share of Drury University students graduate?

62% finish their degree — 38% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $83,324 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $134,394 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is Drury University expensive compared with other Missouri colleges?

Its $20,831 net price runs $2,745 above the $18,086 median across the 71 Missouri colleges we profile, or $10,980 more across the full degree.

Drury University: frequently asked questions

Is Drury University worth the cost?
On institution-wide earnings, the degree does not clear its cost: graduates earn a median $40,694, at or below the $48,360 high-school baseline. The field you study matters far more here than the school average — a high-paying major can flip the math.
How long does a Drury University degree take to pay off?
On institution-wide earnings it does not pay back, because median earnings sit at or below the $48,360 high-school baseline. A specific high-ROI program can still pay off.
How much does Drury University cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $20,831/yr — about $83,324 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does Drury University compare to other Missouri colleges?
It ranks #49 of 71 Missouri colleges we track by payback. Its $40,694 median earnings trail the national median of $43,549, and its $20,831 net price is above the national median of $16,902.