Lipscomb University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Lipscomb University charges a net price of $24,739/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $98,956. Graduates earn a median $55,541 ten years after entry, $7,181/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 13.8 years — a 20-year net return of $44,664, a slow but positive payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Lipscomb University's 13.8-year payback ranks #926 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 28% of them, and #11 of 91 in Tennessee.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $24,739/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $98,956 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $55,541 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $7,181/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $19,500 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 13.8 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $44,664 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Lipscomb University's own numbers. Net price $24,739 × 4 years = $98,956 total. Median earnings $55,541 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $7,181 a year of premium. $98,956 ÷ $7,181 = 13.8 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $44,664. 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 Lipscomb University students graduate with?
A median $19,500 in federal loans among completers, or 35% of the $55,541 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Lipscomb University students graduate?
72% finish their degree. Spread the $98,956 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $137,439 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Lipscomb University expensive compared with other Tennessee colleges?
Its $24,739 net price runs $9,470 above the $15,269 median across the 91 Tennessee colleges we profile, or $37,880 more across the full degree.