Wayland Baptist University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Wayland Baptist University charges a net price of $20,590/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $82,360. Graduates earn a median $51,838 ten years after entry, $3,478/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 23.7 years — a 20-year net return of -$12,800, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Wayland Baptist University's 23.7-year payback ranks #1,096 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 14% of them, and #59 of 213 in Texas.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $20,590/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $82,360 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $51,838 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $3,478/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $23,106 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 23.7 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$12,800 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Wayland Baptist University's own numbers. Net price $20,590 × 4 years = $82,360 total. Median earnings $51,838 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $3,478 a year of premium. $82,360 ÷ $3,478 = 23.7 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves -$12,800. 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 Wayland Baptist University students graduate with?
A median $23,106 in federal loans among completers, or 45% of the $51,838 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Wayland Baptist University students graduate?
19% finish their degree — 81% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $82,360 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $433,474 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Wayland Baptist University expensive compared with other Texas colleges?
Its $20,590 net price runs $1,231 above the $19,359 median across the 213 Texas colleges we profile, or $4,924 more across the full degree.