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University of the Incarnate Word — ROI, Cost & Payback

Private nonprofit · San Antonio, TX · 4,440 students

The verdict

University of the Incarnate Word charges a net price of $22,775/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $91,100. Graduates earn a median $56,733 ten years after entry, $8,373/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 10.9 years — a 20-year net return of $76,360, a slow but positive payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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University of the Incarnate Word's 10.9-year payback ranks #826 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 36% of them, and #38 of 213 in Texas.

Better ROI than 36% of US colleges#826 of 1,280
Weakest ROIStrongest ROI
$22,775
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$56,733
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
10.9 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
98%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
University of the Incarnate Word: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$22,775/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$91,100our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$56,733Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$8,373/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$27,000Scorecard, 2026
Payback10.9 yrsour math
20-year net return$76,360our math

College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.

The arithmetic, on University of the Incarnate Word's own numbers. Net price $22,775 × 4 years = $91,100 total. Median earnings $56,733 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $8,373 a year of premium. $91,100 ÷ $8,373 = 10.9 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $76,360. 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 University of the Incarnate Word students graduate with?

A median $27,000 in federal loans among completers, or 48% of the $56,733 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.

What share of University of the Incarnate Word students graduate?

51% finish their degree — 49% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $91,100 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $178,627 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is University of the Incarnate Word expensive compared with other Texas colleges?

Its $22,775 net price runs $3,416 above the $19,359 median across the 213 Texas colleges we profile, or $13,664 more across the full degree.

University of the Incarnate Word: frequently asked questions

Is University of the Incarnate Word worth the cost?
On the numbers, yes. University of the Incarnate Word charges $22,775/yr after aid ($91,100 over 4 years), and graduates earn a median $56,733 ten years out — $8,373/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. That clears the cost in 10.9 years and returns $76,360 net over 20 years, a slow but positive payback.
How long does a University of the Incarnate Word degree take to pay off?
About 10.9 years. We divide the $91,100 four-year net cost by the $8,373/yr earnings premium over the high-school baseline. It is a floor, not a ceiling — mid-career raises pay it back faster.
How much does University of the Incarnate Word cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $22,775/yr — about $91,100 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does University of the Incarnate Word compare to other Texas colleges?
It ranks #38 of 213 Texas colleges we track by payback. Its $56,733 median earnings beat the national median of $43,549, and its $22,775 net price is above the national median of $16,902.