Southwestern Adventist University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Southwestern Adventist University charges a net price of $22,778/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $91,112. Graduates earn a median $52,946 ten years after entry, $4,586/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 19.9 years — a 20-year net return of $608, a slow but positive payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Southwestern Adventist University's 19.9-year payback ranks #1,061 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 17% of them, and #56 of 213 in Texas.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $22,778/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $91,112 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $52,946 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $4,586/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $26,998 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 19.9 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $608 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Southwestern Adventist University's own numbers. Net price $22,778 × 4 years = $91,112 total. Median earnings $52,946 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $4,586 a year of premium. $91,112 ÷ $4,586 = 19.9 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $608. 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 Southwestern Adventist University students graduate with?
A median $26,998 in federal loans among completers, or 51% of the $52,946 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Southwestern Adventist University students graduate?
52% finish their degree — 48% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $91,112 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $175,215 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Southwestern Adventist University expensive compared with other Texas colleges?
Its $22,778 net price runs $3,419 above the $19,359 median across the 213 Texas colleges we profile, or $13,676 more across the full degree.