Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks John Brown University #1069 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $55,210, placing John Brown University in the 30.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks John Brown University #985 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Azimuth ranks John Brown University #1069 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting strong outcomes across access, mobility, and affordability. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $55,210, placing the institution in the 30.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These outcomes reflect John Brown University's focus on delivering value for students across a range of academic and career pathways.
Azimuth ranks John Brown University #1069 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in Siloam Springs, AR, John Brown University enrolls roughly 1,471 undergraduates. Retention is 81.5% and the six-year graduation rate is 71.8%, reflecting solid student persistence through degree completion. Where John Brown University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks John Brown University #985 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $8,074 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing John Brown University in the 26.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's dominant program family, Business, aligns with strong labor-market demand and contributes to solid long-term financial outcomes for graduates. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. John Brown University sits in the 13.3 percentile for access and the 61.2 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. As a private institution, the sticker price is higher than at public universities, though need-based aid reshapes net cost for families that qualify. Mobility outcomes sit in the 40.8 percentile, reflecting the institution's ability to move graduates into sustainable career pathways aligned with their field of study.
John Brown University's published cost of attendance is $44,710. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $17,484, middle-income families pay around $16,655, and higher-income families pay approximately $24,627. Azimuth ranks John Brown University #554 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. John Brown University structures aid through need-based grants and federal loan programs. The institution participates in federal financial aid (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and institutional aid, with aid packages designed to bridge the gap between sticker price and what families pay. Families apply using the FAFSA to determine eligibility and aid awards. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,250, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $18,650; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $55,210, median federal debt of $21,250 projects to a monthly payment of about $240 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
John Brown University is a strong fit for students interested in business and related fields who want a private nonprofit university experience in AR, South. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $55,210, placing John Brown University in the 30.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn about $8,074 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 26.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university serves a mix of students, with 23.7% of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants and 28.9% being first-generation. This cohort achieves completion rates of 62.8%, showing strong outcomes for students from diverse backgrounds. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 76.1% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors Business fields which account for 28% of degrees. Students whose interests align with these areas will find strong outcomes relative to AR's no-degree baseline of $30,748.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the John Brown University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
John Brown University's published cost of attendance is $44,710. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $17,484, middle-income families pay around $16,655, and higher-income families pay approximately $24,627.
Azimuth ranks John Brown University #554 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
John Brown University structures aid through need-based grants and federal loan programs. The institution participates in federal financial aid (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and institutional aid, with aid packages designed to bridge the gap between sticker price and what families pay.
Families apply using the FAFSA to determine eligibility and aid awards. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,250, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $18,650; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $55,210, median federal debt of $21,250 projects to a monthly payment of about $240 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of John Brown University earn median 4-year earnings of $55,210, placing John Brown University in the 30.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $8,074 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing John Brown University in the 26.0 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks John Brown University #985 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects John Brown University's concentration in business and professional fields.
Psychology, General is the largest program with 34 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $40,222, performing at 0.8x the national benchmark for the field. The Business Administration program graduates 25 students earning $70,720, while Design and Applied Arts with 22 graduates reaches $47,248.
These programs anchor the institution's return profile and reflect the broader institutional emphasis on Business as a primary economic focus.
Accounting and Related Services
6 graduates
Business/Commerce, General
20 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
25 graduates
Construction Management
13 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
16 graduates
John Brown University's program mix is anchored in business and applied professional fields, reflecting the institution's private, career-focused identity. Psychology, General is the largest program with 34 graduates, followed by Business Administration, Design and Applied Arts, Business/Commerce, General, and Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services.
Across 27 total programs, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, with several delivering strong four-year earnings outcomes aligned to regional labor markets. The earnings pattern reflects strength in applied business and technical fields.
Business/Commerce, General leads with median earnings of $78,800 four years after enrollment across 20 graduates, followed by Business Administration at $70,720 with 25 graduates and Nursing at $64,963. Design and Applied Arts and Psychology, General round out the highest-earning programs, delivering $47,248 and $40,222 respectively.
These outcomes correspond to John Brown University's concentration in Business and related professional disciplines, where graduates enter the workforce directly into stable career pathways. The program portfolio emphasizes direct-to-workforce outcomes rather than graduate-school-dependent pathways, meaning four-year earnings reflect actual labor-market entry and early-career progression.
This orientation aligns with John Brown University's positioning as a career-preparation-focused private institution in the Southwest. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these dominant program families align with regional and national labor-market demand.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hilbert College Similar quality tier (#30523 ranked) | NY | 97% | $48,309 | #30523 | Compare |
Newman University Similar quality tier (#30527 ranked) | KS | 74% | $55,041 | #30527 | Compare |
Meredith College Similar quality tier (#30530 ranked) | NC | 74% | $51,539 | #30530 | Compare |
Lake Erie College Similar quality tier (#30001 ranked) | OH | 70% | $50,417 | #30001 | Compare |
Xavier University Similar quality tier (#30533 ranked) | OH | 86% | $64,873 | #30533 | Compare |
