Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Nelson University #1232 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $6,599 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Nelson University in the 30.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Nelson University #1271 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Azimuth ranks Nelson University #1232 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting strong outcomes across access, mobility, and affordability. Graduates earn about $6,599 less than similar students at comparable institutions, contributing to the institution's top quartile ranking for return on investment.
Azimuth ranks Nelson University #1232 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private master's university in Waxahachie, Texas, Nelson University enrolls roughly 1,479 undergraduates. Retention is 75.2% and the six-year graduation rate is 41.6%, reflecting solid conversion of enrollment into degree completion. Nelson University builds its composite strength around return on investment. Azimuth ranks Nelson University #1271 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $6,599 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Nelson University in the 30.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's program portfolio centers on Theology, a field that typically leads to stable career pathways and meaningful long-term financial outcomes for graduates. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Nelson University sits in the 53.8 percentile for access and the 43.8 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. As a private institution with a specialized mission, Nelson University enrolls 47.8% Pell-eligible students and 38.2% first-generation undergraduates. The institution's mobility outcomes — how well graduates move into sustainable careers — sit in the 13.0 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Nelson University's published cost of attendance is $34,504. Need-based aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $17,583, middle-income families pay around $21,731, and higher-income families pay approximately $25,474. Azimuth ranks Nelson University #801 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. Nelson University participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA and CSS Profile. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $24,725, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $20,475; 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 the typical graduate at Nelson University's median four-year earnings of $46,199, median federal debt of $24,725 projects to a monthly payment of about $279 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Nelson University is a strong fit for students drawn to theology and ministry studies who want a private nonprofit university experience in Waxahachie, TX. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $46,199, placing Nelson University in the 3.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $6,599 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Nelson University in the 30.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 47.8% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 38.2% are first-generation — and delivers mobility outcomes that place Nelson University in the 15.2 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure not yet updated to the 4-year horizon. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 89.0% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors theology and ministry studies over applied-professional ones. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find the earnings trajectory and aid package among the strongest in the region.
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
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This is the Nelson University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Marketing
6 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
25 graduates
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
23 graduates
Bible/Biblical Studies
9 graduates
Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries
61 graduates
Nelson University's program mix centers on Theology and related faith-formation fields, reflecting the institution's mission-driven identity. The largest programs by enrollment are Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries with 61 graduates, Business Administration with 25 graduates, and General Studies with 23 graduates.
Across 14 total programs, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, serving roughly 207 students annually. The strongest earnings outcomes cluster in applied professional and business fields.
Business Administration graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $52,229 with 25 graduates, while General Studies delivers median 4-year earnings of $47,277. Bible/Biblical Studies and Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries round out the earnings leaders, demonstrating that Nelson University's economic strength extends beyond its theological core into complementary professional pathways.
The popular programs Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries, Business Administration, and General Studies generate median 4-year earnings of $39,707, $52,229, and $47,277 respectively, reflecting the institution's ability to support students across both faith-formation and secular professional tracks. Nelson University's program portfolio balances mission-aligned theological preparation with practical professional credentials.
Graduates in Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries and related faith studies pursue ministry, chaplaincy, and religious education — pathways where four-year earnings may undercount lifetime trajectory given the prevalence of graduate and professional study. Conversely, students in applied business and professional fields enter the workforce directly, with earnings reflecting immediate labor-market outcomes.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Nelson University's dominant program families align with regional and national workforce demand.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Nelson University's published cost of attendance is $34,504. Need-based aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $17,583, middle-income families pay around $21,731, and higher-income families pay approximately $25,474.
Azimuth ranks Nelson University #801 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.
Nelson University participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA and CSS Profile.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $24,725, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $20,475; 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 the typical graduate at Nelson University's median four-year earnings of $46,199, median federal debt of $24,725 projects to a monthly payment of about $279 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 Nelson University earn median 4-year earnings of $46,199, placing the institution in the 3.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $6,599 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Nelson University in the 30.5 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Nelson University #1271 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Nelson University's concentration in theology and religious studies.
Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries is the largest program with 61 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $39,707, representing 0.9x the national benchmark for the field. The Business Administration program graduates 25 students with median 4-year earnings of $52,229, while General Studies and Human Services, General round out the institution's primary academic portfolio.
This focused program mix — anchored in Theology — shapes both the earnings trajectory and the career pathways available to Nelson University graduates, with outcomes reflecting the labor-market dynamics of faith-based and educational sectors.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mount Aloysius College Similar quality tier (#33880 ranked) | PA | 82% | $46,165 | #33880 | Compare |
Central College Similar quality tier (#33887 ranked) | IA | 86% | $54,317 | #33887 | Compare |
Lees-Mcrae College Similar quality tier (#33889 ranked) | NC | 77% | $43,415 | #33889 | Compare |
Kentucky Wesleyan College Similar quality tier (#33891 ranked) | KY | 72% | $46,747 | #33891 | Compare |
Oberlin College Similar quality tier (#33875 ranked) | OH | 34% | $58,343 | #33875 | Compare |
