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Waynesburg University — ROI, Cost & Payback

Private nonprofit · Waynesburg, PA · 1,009 students

The verdict

Waynesburg University charges a net price of $18,235/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $72,940. Graduates earn a median $58,537 ten years after entry, $10,177/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 7.2 years — a 20-year net return of $130,600, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Waynesburg University's 7.2-year payback ranks #640 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 50% of them, and #64 of 169 in Pennsylvania.

Better ROI than 50% of US colleges#640 of 1,280
Weakest ROIStrongest ROI
$18,235
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$58,537
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
7.2 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
90%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
Waynesburg University: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$18,235/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$72,940our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$58,537Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$10,177/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$27,000Scorecard, 2026
Payback7.2 yrsour math
20-year net return$130,600our math

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

The arithmetic, on Waynesburg University's own numbers. Net price $18,235 × 4 years = $72,940 total. Median earnings $58,537 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $10,177 a year of premium. $72,940 ÷ $10,177 = 7.2 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $130,600. 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 Waynesburg University students graduate with?

A median $27,000 in federal loans among completers, or 46% of the $58,537 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.

What share of Waynesburg University students graduate?

66% finish their degree — 34% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $72,940 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $110,515 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is Waynesburg University expensive compared with other Pennsylvania colleges?

Its $18,235 net price runs $3,506 below the $21,741 median across the 169 Pennsylvania colleges we profile, and $14,024 less across the full degree.

Waynesburg University: frequently asked questions

Is Waynesburg University worth the cost?
On the numbers, yes. Waynesburg University charges $18,235/yr after aid ($72,940 over 4 years), and graduates earn a median $58,537 ten years out — $10,177/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. That clears the cost in 7.2 years and returns $130,600 net over 20 years, a solid payback.
How long does a Waynesburg University degree take to pay off?
About 7.2 years. We divide the $72,940 four-year net cost by the $10,177/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 Waynesburg University cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $18,235/yr — about $72,940 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does Waynesburg University compare to other Pennsylvania colleges?
It ranks #64 of 169 Pennsylvania colleges we track by payback. Its $58,537 median earnings beat the national median of $43,549, and its $18,235 net price is above the national median of $16,902.