Wayland Baptist University
#8 Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Texas- Graduation Rate
- 19% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $51,838 B
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $20,590 C-
- 20% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 56% B
- Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 15.3× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $15.3 over 20 years. Ranked #8 in Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Texas.
Every $1 spent returns $15.3 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,175,675.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Earnings 27% above the national college median.
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Graduation of 19% — 66% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $15.3 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Wayland Baptist University Matters
Wayland Baptist University is a private university in Plainview, TX and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 2,041
- Setting
- Town
- Designations
- HSI · 75
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Criminal Justice, Humanities, Education
Why students choose Wayland Baptist University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 56% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $20,590 a year after grants and scholarships — 20% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $51,838 ten years after enrolling — 27% above the typical college, against $23,106 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.9% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 30% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.48 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of about 2,041 students, Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, Texas, is a solid choice for those interested in fields like Business & Marketing, Criminal Justice, and Health Professions. The acceptance rate of 56% suggests that while it's accessible, it still attracts a diverse group of students. If you're looking for a place that balances a close-knit community with a range of academic options, this might be a good fit.
After graduation, students can expect to earn an average of $51,838 within ten years. This figure is important because it provides a concrete expectation for future earnings, especially considering the investment in education. While the graduation rate is relatively low at 19%, the outcomes for those who do graduate can still be promising, particularly in certain fields where demand is high.
When it comes to finances, the net price after aid stands at $20,590, with a median debt of $23,106 for graduates. This means that while attending Wayland Baptist can be manageable financially, students should be aware of the debt they may incur. Those who thrive here often have a clear focus on their career paths and take advantage of the supportive environment to navigate their studies effectively.
Rankings
- #8 Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Texas
- #9 Best Online Education Programs in Texas
- #10 Best Online Computer Science Programs in Texas
- #10 Best Online Business Programs in Texas
- #14 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Texas
- #15 Best Online Nursing Programs in Texas
- #25 Best Business Colleges in Texas
- #27 Best Education Colleges in Texas
Can I Get In?
How selective Wayland Baptist University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Wayland Baptist University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Plainview, Texas, Wayland Baptist University offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 56% of applicants receiving an offer. The graduation rate is roughly 19%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 56%
- Retention Rate
- 45%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $5,999
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 8:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.80
- First-Gen Students
- 45%
- Applicants
- 1,311
- Admitted
- 914
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Wayland Baptist University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Wayland Baptist University is $23,782, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $20,590. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $20,070 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,106 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $23,782
- Out-of-State
- $23,782
- Avg Net Price
- $20,590
- Median Debt
- $23,106
- Pell Grant Rate
- 46%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 50%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $20,070
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $16,344
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $19,949
- Family Income $110K+
- $25,435
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Wayland Baptist University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Wayland Baptist University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Wayland Baptist University earn a median of $51,838, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $44,159
- 8 Years
- $50,062
- 10 Years
- $51,838
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.45x
- Earning > $25K
- 74%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (40)
- 14%
- 100% (40)
- 14%
- 100% (40)
- 14%
- 100% (40)
- 14%
How Wayland Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Wayland Baptist University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Wayland Baptist University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $20,590/year ($82,360 total). Graduates earn $51,838 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,258,035 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,175,675 (15.3× your investment). The median debt is $23,106, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 19% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $82,360
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,258,035
- Net Return
- $1,175,675
- ROI Multiple
- 15.3×
- Cost Per Year
- $20,590
- Median Debt
- $23,106
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 19%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Wayland Baptist University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Wayland Baptist University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.95%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 14% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 13.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $60,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.95%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 13.9%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 14.0%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $81,791
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $2,746,421
Top Programs
The fields Wayland Baptist University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 32% $52,305 early-career
- Criminal Justice 14% $32,661 early-career
- Humanities 13%
- Education 9% $41,735 early-career
- Health Professions 7%
- Psychology 2% $38,722 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 1%
- Biology & Biomedical 1%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Wayland Baptist University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- B+Physician Assistant$130,020 · 28% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Wayland Baptist University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Plainview, Texas, Wayland Baptist University offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 56% of applicants receiving an offer. The graduation rate is roughly 19%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Wayland Baptist University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Wayland Baptist University is $23,782, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $20,590. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $20,070 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,106 in federal student loans.
Is Wayland Baptist University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Wayland Baptist University earn a median of $51,838, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Wayland Baptist University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Wayland Baptist University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.95%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 14% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 13.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $60,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Wayland Baptist University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Wayland Baptist University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.48, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Wayland Baptist University.
- Waldorf UniversityForest City, IA · Close peer24% grad $51,165 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- William Penn UniversityOskaloosa, IA · Close peer31% grad $48,936 earn 52% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Southwest Minnesota State UniversityMarshall, MN · Close peer45% grad $51,342 earn 62% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Minot State UniversityMinot, ND · Close peer46% grad $51,759 earn 65% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- East Texas Baptist UniversityMarshall, TX · Close peer48% grad $52,788 earn 58% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Cumberland UniversityLebanon, TN · Close peer46% grad $57,687 earn 67% acceptWhy: similar size · similar net price
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Wayland Baptist University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Wayland Baptist University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.48, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note