Students at Mount Vernon Nazarene University benefit from a supportive environment that leads to financial stability, with graduates successfully managing their debt obligations and achieving solid career outcomes.
The combination of strong professional programs and personalized attention creates pathways to stable middle-class careers, particularly in high-demand fields like nursing and business.
Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a small private nonprofit institution in Ohio that provides a personalized educational experience within a Christian framework. With around 2,100 students, MVNU offers the intimate campus environment and close faculty relationships that many students seek in their college experience. The university maintains a moderate selectivity profile while serving a meaningful population of first-generation college students, with about 38% of undergraduates being the first in their families to attend college.
Graduates earn a median of $49,555 ten years after enrollment, placing the institution around the national average for earnings outcomes. The university's strongest programs include nursing, business administration, and social work, with nursing graduates achieving some of the highest early-career earnings at around $56,210. Mount Vernon Nazarene's approach emphasizes practical preparation for professional careers, particularly in fields like healthcare, business, and social services.
As a faith-based institution, MVNU combines academic preparation with spiritual development, creating a distinctive campus culture that appeals to students seeking both educational and personal growth. The university's small size allows for individualized attention and mentorship opportunities that can be particularly valuable for students transitioning from high school to professional careers.
Mount Vernon Nazarene University's program portfolio reflects its mission-driven approach to career preparation, with particular strength in fields that serve community needs. Business Administration stands out as both the largest program, graduating 70 students, and the highest aggregate return major, combining solid enrollment with median earnings of $46,478. This program represents the university's commitment to preparing students for leadership roles in regional business communities.
The Adult Health Nursing program, though smaller with 41 graduates, delivers some of the strongest financial outcomes with median earnings of $56,210. This reflects the high demand for healthcare professionals and the university's reputation for preparing competent, caring nurses who are well-regarded by regional healthcare employers. The program's success demonstrates MVNU's ability to combine technical training with the values-based education that characterizes the institution.
Forensic Social Work, while showing more modest early earnings at $34,847, represents the university's commitment to preparing students for meaningful careers in human services. With 38 graduates, this program reflects MVNU's emphasis on service-oriented professions that align with its Christian mission. These three programs together illustrate the university's focus on practical, career-oriented education that prepares students for stable employment in fields that serve their communities while providing reasonable financial returns.
Mount Vernon Nazarene University graduates achieve solid long-term financial outcomes, with median earnings of $49,555 ten years after enrollment. This places the institution around the national average for earnings performance, providing graduates with stable financial foundations for their careers. The university's focus on practical, career-oriented programs helps students transition effectively into the workforce, particularly in fields with strong regional demand.
The strongest financial returns come from the university's nursing program, where graduates earn around $56,210 early in their careers, reflecting the high demand for healthcare professionals in Ohio and surrounding regions. Business Administration, the university's largest program with 70 graduates, produces median earnings of $46,478, while the Social Work program, though showing lower initial earnings at $34,847, prepares students for meaningful careers in human services. These programs represent the core of MVNU's academic focus, combining practical skills development with the university's mission-driven approach to education.
The university's small size and personalized approach create opportunities for internships, mentorship, and professional networking that can enhance career prospects beyond what earnings data alone might suggest. Students benefit from close relationships with faculty and staff who often have strong connections to regional employers, particularly in healthcare, business, and social services sectors throughout central Ohio.
Mount Vernon Nazarene University offers relatively predictable pricing across income levels, with net prices that reflect its status as a private institution while remaining accessible to middle-class families. Low-income students pay approximately $17,598 annually, while middle-income families see costs around $19,173, and higher-income families pay about $26,244. This pricing structure shows the university's commitment to making private Christian education accessible across different economic backgrounds.
The university's financial aid approach helps moderate the sticker price impact, particularly for students from lower- and middle-income families. With nearly 29% of students receiving Pell Grants and a substantial portion being first-generation college students, MVNU demonstrates a commitment to serving students who might not otherwise access private higher education. The relatively modest difference between low- and middle-income net prices suggests that the university's aid formula is designed to support working families who fall into the middle-income range.
Debt levels at MVNU are manageable relative to typical private institution standards, with graduates carrying median federal loan debt of $25,000 and families using Parent PLUS loans averaging $18,635. The university maintains a 0% federal loan default rate, indicating that graduates are generally able to service their debt obligations successfully after graduation, supported by the career preparation and professional networks that the institution provides.
Mount Vernon Nazarene University Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
