Olivet Nazarene University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Olivet Nazarene University charges a net price of $20,729/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $82,916. Graduates earn a median $53,213 ten years after entry, $4,853/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 17.1 years — a 20-year net return of $14,144, a slow but positive payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Olivet Nazarene University's 17.1-year payback ranks #1,012 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 21% of them, and #39 of 116 in Illinois.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $20,729/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $82,916 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $53,213 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $4,853/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $25,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 17.1 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $14,144 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Olivet Nazarene University's own numbers. Net price $20,729 × 4 years = $82,916 total. Median earnings $53,213 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $4,853 a year of premium. $82,916 ÷ $4,853 = 17.1 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $14,144. 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 Olivet Nazarene University students graduate with?
A median $25,000 in federal loans among completers, or 47% of the $53,213 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Olivet Nazarene University students graduate?
61% finish their degree — 39% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $82,916 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $135,928 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Olivet Nazarene University expensive compared with other Illinois colleges?
Its $20,729 net price runs $6,979 above the $13,750 median across the 116 Illinois colleges we profile, or $27,916 more across the full degree.