Lincoln Memorial University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Lincoln Memorial University charges a net price of $20,406/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $81,624. Graduates earn a median $49,956 ten years after entry, $1,596/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 51.1 years — a 20-year net return of -$49,704, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Lincoln Memorial University's 51.1-year payback ranks #1,191 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 7% of them, and #16 of 91 in Tennessee.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $20,406/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $81,624 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $49,956 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $1,596/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $20,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 51.1 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$49,704 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Lincoln Memorial University's own numbers. Net price $20,406 × 4 years = $81,624 total. Median earnings $49,956 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $1,596 a year of premium. $81,624 ÷ $1,596 = 51.1 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves -$49,704. 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 Lincoln Memorial University students graduate with?
A median $20,000 in federal loans among completers, or 40% of the $49,956 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Lincoln Memorial University students graduate?
50% finish their degree — 50% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $81,624 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $163,248 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Lincoln Memorial University expensive compared with other Tennessee colleges?
Its $20,406 net price runs $5,137 above the $15,269 median across the 91 Tennessee colleges we profile, or $20,548 more across the full degree.