Southwestern College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Southwestern College charges a net price of $29,824/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $119,296. Graduates earn a median $55,646 ten years after entry, $7,286/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 16.4 years — a 20-year net return of $26,424, a slow but positive payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Southwestern College's 16.4-year payback ranks #999 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 22% of them, and #12 of 57 in Kansas.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $29,824/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $119,296 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $55,646 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $7,286/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $25,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 16.4 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $26,424 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Southwestern College's own numbers. Net price $29,824 × 4 years = $119,296 total. Median earnings $55,646 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $7,286 a year of premium. $119,296 ÷ $7,286 = 16.4 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $26,424. 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 College students graduate with?
A median $25,000 in federal loans among completers, or 45% of the $55,646 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Southwestern College students graduate?
36% finish their degree — 64% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $119,296 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $331,378 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Southwestern College expensive compared with other Kansas colleges?
Its $29,824 net price runs $14,544 above the $15,280 median across the 57 Kansas colleges we profile, or $58,176 more across the full degree.