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CollegeRanker
Private nonprofit Saint Louis, MO · Suburban · Plains · 100% data
B- Earnings B- Diversity C+ Graduation
Graduation Rate
63% C+
About half of students who start complete their degree
Earnings (10yr)
$50,876 B-
Well above the typical college graduate
Net Price
$27,047 D
58% more than the typical college
Acceptance Rate
86% D+
Accessible to most qualified applicants
Earnings +25% vs avg
Graduation +10% vs avg
Net Price 58% vs avg
Mobility Top 84%

Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 13.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $13.0 over 20 years. Ranked #4 in Best Communications Colleges in Missouri.

13.0× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $13.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,302,288.

What The Data Says

  1. A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

  2. Earnings 25% above the national college median.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $13.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why Webster University Matters

Webster University is a private university in Saint Louis, MO 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
2,304
Setting
Suburban
Primary Strengths
Visual & Performing Arts, Business & Marketing, Communications, Computer Science & IT

Why students choose Webster University

Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Strength in Visual & Performing Arts
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C-
Top 58% overall
B-
Earnings
$50,876 median
D+
Value
1.9× net price
D
Affordability
$27,047/yr net
C+
Graduation
63% graduate
D
Social Mobility
0.9% climb Q1→Q5
D+
Selectivity
86% admit rate
B-
Diversity
0.65 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

With an acceptance rate of 86%, Webster University is an accessible option for many students looking to engage in a vibrant academic community. Located in Saint Louis, it attracts those interested in fields like Visual & Performing Arts, Business & Marketing, Communications, Computer Science, and Psychology. This diverse course offering means students can tailor their education to align with their interests and career goals, which can be crucial for personal and professional growth.

After graduation, students can expect to earn around $50,876 after ten years in the workforce. This figure reflects a solid return on investment, especially considering the school’s affordability. With 29% of students receiving Pell Grants, Webster is committed to supporting those who may need financial assistance. Graduates from this institution often find pathways to upward mobility in their careers, making the decision to enroll a potentially life-changing one.

When it comes to costs, the net price after aid stands at $27,047, and the median debt for graduates is $23,000. This financial landscape suggests that while students take on some debt, it's manageable compared to their earning potential. Those who thrive here are typically proactive, seek out support, and take advantage of the unique opportunities available in the heart of a dynamic city. It's really about finding a place where you can grow academically and personally, and Webster offers that in a welcoming environment.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Webster University is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Webster University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Saint Louis, Missouri, Webster University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 86%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,102. The graduation rate is roughly 63%.

Acceptance Rate
86%
Retention Rate
69%
SAT Average
1102
ACT Midpoint
24
SAT Range
1110–1310
ACT Range
18–25
Full-Time Faculty
100%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$9,218
Student–Faculty Ratio
12:1
Diversity Index
0.65
First-Gen Students
30%
Applicants
3,768
Admitted
2,076

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 Webster University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Webster University is $31,750, 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 $27,047. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $22,359 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,000 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$31,750
Out-of-State
$31,750
Avg Net Price
$27,047
Median Debt
$23,000
Pell Grant Rate
29%
Federal Loan Rate
46%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$22,359
Family Income $30K–$48K
$22,083
Family Income $48K–$75K
$27,257
Family Income $110K+
$31,314

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 Webster University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is Webster University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Webster University earn a median of $50,876, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

6 Years After Entry
$39,656
8 Years
$46,628
10 Years
$50,876
Debt-to-Earnings
0.45x
Earning > $25K
65%

Earnings Trajectory

$39,656 6yr $46,628 8yr $50,876 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (188)
41%
100% (188)
41%
100% (188)
41%
100% (188)
41%

How Webster Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation63%Earnings 10yr$51KNet Price$27KRetention69%Median Debt$23KPell Grant Rate29%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$22K$0-30K$22K$30-48K$27K$48-75K$31K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%4.7%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%18.6%MOBILITY0.87%

College ROI Calculator

Is Webster University Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Webster University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $27,047/year ($108,188 total). Graduates earn $50,876 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,410,476 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,302,288 (13.0× your investment). The median debt is $23,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 63% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$108,188
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,410,476
Net Return
$1,302,288
ROI Multiple
13.0×
Cost Per Year
$27,047
Median Debt
$23,000
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
63%

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 Webster University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Webster University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.87%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 4.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 18.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $96,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
0.87%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
18.6%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
4.7%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$130,430
today's $ (2015 cohort data)

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Webster 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 Webster University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.74, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 17% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.74
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
-0.02
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
16.6%
Support Ratio
0.99
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Investment Income
$-6,780,077

Top Programs

The fields Webster 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.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Webster University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Saint Louis, Missouri, Webster University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 86%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,102. The graduation rate is roughly 63%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Webster University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Webster University is $31,750, 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 $27,047. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $22,359 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,000 in federal student loans.

Is Webster University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Webster University earn a median of $50,876, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

Does Webster University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Webster University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.87%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 4.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 18.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $96,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is Webster 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 Webster University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.74, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 17% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

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The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

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