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Washington Adventist University — ROI, Cost & Payback

Private nonprofit · Takoma Park, MD · 452 students

The verdict

Washington Adventist University charges a net price of $18,526/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $74,104. Graduates earn a median $64,249 ten years after entry, $15,889/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 4.7 years — a 20-year net return of $243,676, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Washington Adventist University's 4.7-year payback ranks #389 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 70% of them, and #10 of 52 in Maryland.

Better ROI than 70% of US colleges#389 of 1,280
Weakest ROIStrongest ROI
$18,526
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$64,249
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
4.7 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
46%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
Washington Adventist University: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$18,526/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$74,104our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$64,249Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$15,889/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$30,500Scorecard, 2026
Payback4.7 yrsour math
20-year net return$243,676our math

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

The arithmetic, on Washington Adventist University's own numbers. Net price $18,526 × 4 years = $74,104 total. Median earnings $64,249 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $15,889 a year of premium. $74,104 ÷ $15,889 = 4.7 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $243,676. 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 Washington Adventist University students graduate with?

A median $30,500 in federal loans among completers, or 47% of the $64,249 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.

What share of Washington Adventist University students graduate?

29% finish their degree — 71% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $74,104 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $255,531 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is Washington Adventist University expensive compared with other Maryland colleges?

Its $18,526 net price runs $948 above the $17,578 median across the 52 Maryland colleges we profile, or $3,792 more across the full degree.

Washington Adventist University: frequently asked questions

Is Washington Adventist University worth the cost?
On the numbers, yes. Washington Adventist University charges $18,526/yr after aid ($74,104 over 4 years), and graduates earn a median $64,249 ten years out — $15,889/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. That clears the cost in 4.7 years and returns $243,676 net over 20 years, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast.
How long does a Washington Adventist University degree take to pay off?
About 4.7 years. We divide the $74,104 four-year net cost by the $15,889/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 Washington Adventist University cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $18,526/yr — about $74,104 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does Washington Adventist University compare to other Maryland colleges?
It ranks #10 of 52 Maryland colleges we track by payback. Its $64,249 median earnings beat the national median of $43,549, and its $18,526 net price is above the national median of $16,902.