10-YEAR PAYOFF CURVECumulative economic payoff after graduation
−$132,746at year 10Net gainInvestment not yet recovered
NET GAIN$0UNRECOVERED
Baylor University
⌖ Waco, TX · 63 reportable field-and-credential outcomes
10-year estimate · Negative payoff
−$132,746 over 10 years
Modeled from observed year-5 institution earnings and the institution-wide average net price over four years.
With these assumptions, the added earnings do not recover the cost within ten years.
16.3 yrsModeled economic break-even
−39%Modeled 10-year ROI
$66,167Observed earnings · year 5
$7,918Maximum annual price for positive 10-year payoff
The price benchmark would need to fall by $33,187 per year to reach it.
Includes direct price and earnings forgone while studying. Assumes $45,000 in alternative annual earnings and no wage growth. How we calculate itWhat the numbers say about Baylor University
What does Baylor University cost?
Baylor University reports an average annual net price of $41,104 after grants and scholarships. This is an institution-wide average, not an individual aid offer.
What do Baylor University graduates earn?
The observed median earnings figure is $66,167 5 years after completion. It describes a federal cohort, not a guaranteed starting salary.
How much federal debt do Baylor University graduates have?
Completer borrowers report median cumulative federal student debt of $23,000. Parent PLUS and private loans are not included.
Is every degree at Baylor University worth the same?
No. DegreeVerdict currently shows 63 field-and-credential outcomes at Baylor University; reported earnings and debt can differ substantially by program category.
ECONOMIC INVESTMENT → PAYBACK
Estimated payoff over ten years.
The scenario counts direct price and earnings forgone upfront, then applies the reported annual earnings premium.
FEDERAL COST DATA
Four ways to read college price.
Annual college-wide figures from the current College Scorecard release. Average net price covers full-time, first-time undergraduates receiving federal aid; public-college figures use in-state students. Program tuition and individual aid offers may differ.
PRICE SENSITIVITY
The price can change the verdict.
Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price+$31,670
$12,000Annual price−$16,330
$24,000Annual price−$64,330
$36,000Annual price−$112,330
$41,000Current college-wide context−$132,330
$48,000Annual price−$160,330
$60,000Annual price−$208,330
COLLEGE AT A GLANCE
Institution details
Current federal characteristics describing the college, not the outcomes of a specific program.
- Accreditor
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
- Main award level
- Bachelor’s degrees
- Campus setting
- City
- Admissions
- Selective admission
- Delivery
- Campus or mixed delivery
- Federal designation
- No special designation reported
Cost, debt, completion and earnings context
$41,104Average net price / year
$74,226Cost of attendance
$23,000Median federal student debt · completer borrowers
$244/moPublished 10-year payment estimate
$66,167Median earnings · year 5 after completion
80.0%Completion rate
51.3%Admission rate
14,785Student size
Institution debt covers federal student-loan borrowers who completed. Parent PLUS and private loans are excluded; missing and privacy-suppressed values remain unavailable.
WHO PAYS, WHO FINISHES, WHO EARNS
Outcomes are not the same for every family.
These federal cohorts add context that a single college average can hide. Missing figures remain unreported rather than estimated.
Complete within 150% of the expected time
70% received a Pell Grant within eight yearsMedian Parent PLUS debt
1,332 parent borrowers in the reported cohortMedian federal student debt
65% making progress in repayment after three yearsStudent family incomeMedian earnings after 10 yearsObserved federal cohorts
Lower income$61,315Earnings are not a guarantee
Middle income$64,382Earnings are not a guarantee
Higher income$67,869Earnings are not a guarantee
Three-year repayment progress
Lower income60%
Middle income69%
Higher income81%
Source: College Scorecard, June 2026 release. Parent PLUS debt belongs to parents; student-debt measures exclude Parent PLUS and private loans. Cohort definitions differ by measure.
NATIONAL CONTEXT
How this college compares
Percentiles compare this institution with currently operating colleges that report the same federal measure.
WHAT STANDS OUT
A faster read on this college
These summaries use only reportable field-and-credential records at this institution. They do not fill privacy-suppressed outcomes.
EARNINGS PATH
Reported earnings over time
$50,754Year 1
$69,608Year 4
$66,167Year 5
Separate federal cohorts may underlie different measurement years.
The college average is not the whole story.
Observed earnings vary substantially by field and credential at the same institution.
1Business Administration, Management and Operations · Master's Degree$130,1782Computer Science · Bachelor's Degree$128,4113General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations · Bachelor's Degree$125,1674Business/Commerce, General · Bachelor's Degree$124,4345Law · Doctoral Degree$121,7156Accounting and Related Services · Master's Degree$109,0557Finance and Financial Management Services · Bachelor's Degree$102,8128Accounting and Related Services · Bachelor's Degree$102,011Observed year-4 earnings · compare like fields and credentials before deciding
Programs that stand out against the same-degree benchmark
This view rewards performance relative to the same field and credential, not simply majors that pay more everywhere.
1Business/Commerce, GeneralBachelor's Degree · $124,434 reported+82%vs same-degree national median$15,000federal debt2General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing OperationsBachelor's Degree · $125,167 reported+66%vs same-degree national median$20,500federal debt3Entrepreneurial and Small Business OperationsBachelor's Degree · $86,363 reported+42%vs same-degree national median$19,375federal debt4Accounting and Related ServicesBachelor's Degree · $102,011 reported+34%vs same-degree national median$20,500federal debt5Human Resources Management and ServicesBachelor's Degree · $89,102 reported+31%vs same-degree national median$20,475federal debt6MathematicsBachelor's Degree · $89,618 reported+29%vs same-degree national median$25,000federal debt
Comparable colleges in TX
Currently operating private nonprofit institutions with the closest combination of annual net price and observed year-5 earnings. Similarity is descriptive, not a quality ranking.
Fort Worth, TX
Texas Christian University
- Annual net price
- $36,660
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $69,108
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -26%
LeTourneau University
- Annual net price
- $28,185
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $67,861
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -22%
Southern Methodist University
- Annual net price
- $40,892
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $86,158
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- +20%
Concordia University Texas
- Annual net price
- $23,131
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $62,873
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -34%
Explore exact field-and-credential outcomes
| Federal field | Credential | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 2023–24 awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Master's Degree | $130,178 | Not available | Not reported |
| Computer Science | Bachelor's Degree | $128,411 | $27,000 | Not reported |
| General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations | Bachelor's Degree | $125,167 | $20,500 | Not reported |
| Business/Commerce, General | Bachelor's Degree | $124,434 | $15,000 | Not reported |
| Law | Doctoral Degree | $121,715 | Not available | 192 |
| Accounting and Related Services | Master's Degree | $109,055 | Not available | Not reported |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | Bachelor's Degree | $102,812 | $23,000 | Not reported |
| Accounting and Related Services | Bachelor's Degree | $102,011 | $20,500 | Not reported |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $100,110 | $21,500 | Not reported |
| Management Information Systems and Services | Bachelor's Degree | $96,148 | $24,000 | Not reported |
| Real Estate | Bachelor's Degree | $94,027 | $20,530 | Not reported |
| Mechanical Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $92,990 | $27,000 | Not reported |
| Mathematics | Bachelor's Degree | $89,618 | $25,000 | Not reported |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Bachelor's Degree | $89,510 | $26,975 | Not reported |
| Human Resources Management and Services | Bachelor's Degree | $89,102 | $20,475 | 17 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | Bachelor's Degree | $86,363 | $19,375 | Not reported |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Bachelor's Degree | $85,961 | $22,866 | 11 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | Bachelor's Degree | $84,808 | $22,500 | Not reported |
| Engineering, General | Bachelor's Degree | $84,689 | Not available | Not reported |
| Marketing | Bachelor's Degree | $78,398 | $21,775 | 14 |
| International Business | Bachelor's Degree | $71,071 | Not available | Not reported |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | Bachelor's Degree | $68,460 | $25,000 | Not reported |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | Bachelor's Degree | $67,484 | $22,409 | Not reported |
| Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations | Bachelor's Degree | $67,066 | $23,115 | Not reported |
| Chemistry | Bachelor's Degree | $65,293 | $27,000 | Not reported |
| Psychology, General | Bachelor's Degree | $65,090 | $25,212 | Not reported |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | Master's Degree | $65,075 | Not available | Not reported |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | Master's Degree | $65,057 | Not available | Not reported |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | Bachelor's Degree | $63,909 | $21,000 | Not reported |
| Journalism | Bachelor's Degree | $63,622 | $23,959 | Not reported |
| Design and Applied Arts | Bachelor's Degree | $63,522 | $26,500 | Not reported |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | Master's Degree | $62,389 | Not available | Not reported |
| Political Science and Government | Bachelor's Degree | $61,578 | $26,000 | Not reported |
| Social Work | Master's Degree | $61,272 | Not available | Not reported |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | Bachelor's Degree | $59,701 | $26,000 | Not reported |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | Master's Degree | $59,087 | Not available | Not reported |
| Communication and Media Studies | Bachelor's Degree | $58,915 | $23,860 | Not reported |
| Theological and Ministerial Studies | Master's Degree | $58,391 | Not available | Not reported |
| Social Work | Bachelor's Degree | $58,293 | $23,198 | Not reported |
| Sociology | Bachelor's Degree | $57,822 | $25,937 | Not reported |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | Bachelor's Degree | $57,434 | $27,000 | Not reported |
| Biology, General | Bachelor's Degree | $57,155 | $23,850 | Not reported |
| History | Bachelor's Degree | $57,006 | $24,625 | Not reported |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | Bachelor's Degree | $56,476 | $22,250 | Not reported |
| English Language and Literature, General | Bachelor's Degree | $54,367 | Not available | Not reported |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | Bachelor's Degree | $53,927 | $27,000 | Not reported |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | Master's Degree | $53,274 | Not available | Not reported |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General | Bachelor's Degree | $51,727 | $27,000 | Not reported |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | Bachelor's Degree | $51,273 | $26,997 | Not reported |
| Anthropology | Bachelor's Degree | $50,699 | $26,500 | Not reported |
| Fine and Studio Arts | Bachelor's Degree | $50,253 | $26,000 | Not reported |
| Religion/Religious Studies | Bachelor's Degree | $50,002 | $25,612 | Not reported |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | Bachelor's Degree | $49,661 | $27,000 | Not reported |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | Bachelor's Degree | $46,979 | $21,350 | Not reported |
| Music | Master's Degree | $46,515 | Not available | Not reported |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | Bachelor's Degree | $46,043 | $25,000 | Not reported |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | Bachelor's Degree | $45,706 | $24,130 | Not reported |
| Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services | Bachelor's Degree | $45,554 | $26,757 | Not reported |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | Bachelor's Degree | $44,995 | $19,500 | Not reported |
| Music | Bachelor's Degree | $40,017 | $27,000 | Not reported |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | Bachelor's Degree | Not available | $26,228 | Not reported |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | Bachelor's Degree | Not available | $19,000 | Not reported |
| Public Health | Bachelor's Degree | Not available | $22,495 | Not reported |
Awards use first-major IPEDS completions aggregated to the same four-digit field and credential.
Earnings, price, completion and enrollment are observed federal measures. ROI, payoff and break-even are modeled scenarios built from those measures and fixed assumptions. College payoff is not the payoff of every degree at this school; use the program table for a more precise comparison.