Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Lindenwood University #788 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $1,131 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Lindenwood University in the 53.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Lindenwood University #794 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Lindenwood University's composite ranking reflects broad strengths in return on investment and earnings beyond expectations. Graduates earn about $1,131 less than similar students at comparable institutions, positioning the institution as a strong choice for families seeking predictable financial outcomes.
Azimuth ranks Lindenwood University #788 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private master's university in Saint Charles, Missouri, Lindenwood University enrolls roughly 4,624 undergraduates. Retention stands at 65.6% and the six-year graduation rate is 49.3%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a regional institution. Where Lindenwood University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Lindenwood University #794 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $1,131 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Lindenwood University in the 53.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance reflects the institution's concentration in Business, a field where employers actively recruit and early-career earnings remain competitive. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Lindenwood University sits in the 70.7 percentile for access and the 50th percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls 30.0% Pell-eligible students and 35.1% first-generation undergraduates, reflecting a regional student population with moderate economic diversity. Mobility outcomes place the institution in the 21.9 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, indicating that graduates move into stable career pathways at rates comparable to peer institutions.
Lindenwood University's published cost of attendance is $35,436. Net price by income band varies across the student body: low-income families pay approximately $15,678, middle-income families pay around $17,603, and higher-income families pay approximately $23,821. Azimuth ranks Lindenwood University #713 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 50th percentile for post-graduation affordability. 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. Lindenwood University structures aid through need-based and merit-based components. Families apply using the FAFSA to determine eligibility for federal and institutional aid, and the university participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and state aid programs. Merit scholarships are available for students who meet academic and other criteria, supplementing need-based aid packages. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $18,445; 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 $58,207, median federal debt of $26,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $294 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Lindenwood University is a fit for students who want a private nonprofit four-year option in MO and are weighing outcomes against cost. Azimuth ranks Lindenwood University #785 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $58,207, placing Lindenwood University in the 33.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $1,131 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 53.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Published cost of attendance is $35,436. After need-based aid, low-income families pay approximately $15,678, middle-income families pay around $17,603, higher-income families pay approximately $23,821. Students should weigh those current cost and earnings figures against the school's program mix before treating the fit as primarily an earnings, affordability, or access story.
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 Lindenwood University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Computer Systems Analysis
6 graduates
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
24 graduates
Computer and Information Sciences, General
28 graduates
Health and Medical Administrative Services
19 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
31 graduates
Lindenwood University's program mix is anchored in business and professional fields, reflecting the institution's applied, career-focused identity. Business/Commerce, General is the largest program with 188 graduates, followed by Kinesiology, Criminal Justice, Psychology, General, and Biology, General.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 1,151 students annually, several deliver strong four-year earnings outcomes aligned with regional labor-market demand. The earnings pattern reflects strength in applied business and professional pathways.
Accounting leads with median earnings of $66,383 four years after enrollment, followed by Business/Commerce, General at $63,524, Finance at $63,077, Criminal Justice at $58,400, and Digital Marketing at $57,255. These programs cluster in business administration, accounting, and professional management fields where graduates enter the workforce directly and earnings reflect immediate labor-market outcomes.
Lindenwood University's program portfolio emphasizes direct-to-workforce pathways rather than graduate-school-dependent fields, which aligns with the institution's positioning as a professional and applied-career-focused private university. The concentration in Business — accounting for 30% of degrees — combined with strength in Education and Arts, creates a coherent signature oriented toward stable, in-demand professional roles.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these program families align with regional and national labor-market trends.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Lindenwood University's published cost of attendance is $35,436. Net price by income band varies across the student body: low-income families pay approximately $15,678, middle-income families pay around $17,603, and higher-income families pay approximately $23,821.
Azimuth ranks Lindenwood University #713 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 50th percentile for post-graduation affordability. 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.
Lindenwood University structures aid through need-based and merit-based components. Families apply using the FAFSA to determine eligibility for federal and institutional aid, and the university participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and state aid programs.
Merit scholarships are available for students who meet academic and other criteria, supplementing need-based aid packages. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $18,445; 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 $58,207, median federal debt of $26,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $294 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 Lindenwood University earn median 4-year earnings of $58,207, placing Lindenwood University in the 33.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $1,131 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Lindenwood University in the 53.2 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Lindenwood University #794 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Lindenwood University's concentration in business and professional fields.
Business/Commerce, General is the largest program with 188 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $63,524, performing at 0.9x the national benchmark for the field. The Kinesiology program graduates 92 students earning $48,991, while Criminal Justice and Psychology, General round out the top programs with 71 and 61 graduates respectively.
These programs anchor Lindenwood University's return profile, with Business representing the institution's primary degree focus and driving consistent outcomes across the student body.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mckendree University Higher acceptance rate (14.9 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 39 miles away; similar median earnings four years after completion | IL | 72% | $60,630 | Compare |
Missouri Baptist University Same state (10 miles away) with similar earnings and similar program focus; same institution type | MO | 69% | $52,550 | Compare |
University Of Missouri-St Louis Similar admission rate (5.8 percentage points difference) and similar test scores (9 point difference) with similar program focus; located 11 miles away | MO | 63% | $62,350 | Compare |
Illinois Institute Of Technology 56.9% higher median earnings four years after completion with similar cost | IL | 55% | $91,312 | Compare |
University Of Illinois Springfield 49.9% lower net price with similar earnings and similar program focus; located 81 miles away | IL | 86% | $63,235 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cedarville University Profile match using composite score, four-year earnings, enrollment and region; median earnings four years after completion: $60679 versus $58207; same region (Midwest) | OH | 65% | $60,679 | #1146 |
National Louis University Profile match using composite score, four-year earnings, enrollment and region; median earnings four years after completion: $63065 versus $58207; same region (Midwest) | IL | 95% | $63,065 | #273 | Compare |
Roosevelt University Profile match using composite score, four-year earnings, enrollment and region; median earnings four years after completion: $58796 versus $58207; same region (Midwest) | IL | 97% | $58,796 | #704 | Compare |
St Olaf College Profile match using composite score, four-year earnings, enrollment and region; median earnings four years after completion: $56323 versus $58207; same region (Midwest) | MN | 48% | $56,323 | #983 | Compare |
Aurora University Profile match using composite score, four-year earnings, enrollment and region; median earnings four years after completion: $64521 versus $58207; same region (Midwest) | IL | 81% | $64,521 | #342 | Compare |
