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Whitworth University — ROI, Cost & Payback

Private nonprofit · Spokane, WA · 1,858 students

The verdict

Whitworth University charges a net price of $26,534/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $106,136. Graduates earn a median $58,561 ten years after entry, $10,201/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 10.4 years — a 20-year net return of $97,884, a slow but positive payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Whitworth University's 10.4-year payback ranks #809 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 37% of them, and #21 of 64 in Washington.

Better ROI than 37% of US colleges#809 of 1,280
Weakest ROIStrongest ROI
$26,534
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$58,561
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
10.4 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
90%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
Whitworth University: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$26,534/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$106,136our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$58,561Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$10,201/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$25,000Scorecard, 2026
Payback10.4 yrsour math
20-year net return$97,884our math

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

The arithmetic, on Whitworth University's own numbers. Net price $26,534 × 4 years = $106,136 total. Median earnings $58,561 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $10,201 a year of premium. $106,136 ÷ $10,201 = 10.4 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $97,884. 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 Whitworth University students graduate with?

A median $25,000 in federal loans among completers, or 43% of the $58,561 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.

What share of Whitworth University students graduate?

71% finish their degree. Spread the $106,136 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $149,487 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is Whitworth University expensive compared with other Washington colleges?

Its $26,534 net price runs $14,508 above the $12,027 median across the 64 Washington colleges we profile, or $58,030 more across the full degree.

Whitworth University: frequently asked questions

Is Whitworth University worth the cost?
On the numbers, yes. Whitworth University charges $26,534/yr after aid ($106,136 over 4 years), and graduates earn a median $58,561 ten years out — $10,201/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. That clears the cost in 10.4 years and returns $97,884 net over 20 years, a slow but positive payback.
How long does a Whitworth University degree take to pay off?
About 10.4 years. We divide the $106,136 four-year net cost by the $10,201/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 Whitworth University cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $26,534/yr — about $106,136 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does Whitworth University compare to other Washington colleges?
It ranks #21 of 64 Washington colleges we track by payback. Its $58,561 median earnings beat the national median of $43,549, and its $26,534 net price is above the national median of $16,902.