Students at Our Lady of the Lake University earn substantially more than similar students at comparable institutions, reflecting meaningful educational value despite serving a predominantly first-generation and low-income population.
The university combines exceptional access with solid financial outcomes, making private education attainable for working-class families in Texas.
Our Lady of the Lake University ranks as a small private nonprofit institution in San Antonio that prioritizes access and student support over selectivity. With 57% of students receiving Pell Grants and 48% being first-generation college students, the university serves a predominantly working-class student body seeking upward mobility through higher education. The institution's access composite score places it in the 91st percentile nationally, reflecting its commitment to opening doors for students who might not find opportunities elsewhere.
While long-term earnings outcomes are more modest—with graduates earning a median of $48,675 ten years after enrollment—the university delivers meaningful value through its strong earnings beyond expectations performance. Students earn about $13,415 more than similar students at comparable institutions, suggesting the university adds substantial value to student outcomes despite serving a challenging population. The university's small size and private nonprofit structure enable personalized support that helps students navigate college successfully, with particularly strong outcomes for Pell recipients who often outperform their peers in completion rates.
For families seeking an affordable private education in Texas, Our Lady of the Lake offers a compelling combination of accessibility, support, and financial value that makes higher education attainable for students from diverse economic backgrounds.
Our Lady of the Lake University's program portfolio reflects its mission of preparing students for service-oriented careers that serve the San Antonio community and beyond. The university's academic strengths center on social services, psychology, and business fields that align with both student interests and regional employment opportunities. Forensic Social Work emerges as the standout program, combining the largest graduate cohort (48 students) with solid median earnings of $35,274, making it the highest aggregate return program and demonstrating the university's ability to prepare students for specialized careers in criminal justice and social services.
Psychology General represents the university's largest program footprint with 44 graduates earning a median of $32,925, reflecting strong student demand for mental health and human services careers. Business Administration and Management, while smaller with 25 graduates, offers the highest individual earning potential at $36,848, providing students with foundational business skills that translate well in the diverse San Antonio economy. These three programs together represent the core of the university's academic mission: preparing students for careers that combine personal fulfillment with economic stability.
The program mix reflects Our Lady of the Lake's understanding of its student population and regional context. Rather than chasing high-earning STEM fields that might not align with student interests or backgrounds, the university focuses on professional programs that provide clear career pathways and meaningful work opportunities. This approach, while producing more moderate absolute earnings, creates sustainable career trajectories for first-generation and low-income students who value both economic advancement and community service.
Graduates of Our Lady of the Lake University achieve solid financial outcomes that exceed expectations given the student population served. Ten years after enrollment, graduates earn a median of $48,675, which places the university at the 30th percentile nationally but represents strong value when considering the institution's mission and student demographics. More importantly, graduates earn about $13,415 more than similar students at comparable institutions, demonstrating the university's ability to add meaningful value to student outcomes through its educational approach and support systems.
The university's program portfolio reflects its focus on service-oriented and professional fields that align with student interests and regional employment opportunities. Forensic Social Work stands out as the highest aggregate return program, graduating 48 students with median earnings of $35,274, combining substantial enrollment with solid career prospects. Psychology General, the largest program with 44 graduates, produces median earnings of $32,925, while Business Administration and Management offers the highest individual earnings at $36,848 for its 25 graduates. These programs reflect the university's strength in preparing students for careers in social services, mental health, and business sectors that serve the San Antonio community.
The university's return on investment story is particularly compelling for students from low-income backgrounds, who benefit from both the accessible admission process and the institution's track record of helping students achieve earnings that surpass expectations. While absolute earnings levels are moderate, the consistent value-added performance suggests that Our Lady of the Lake provides educational experiences and career preparation that translate into meaningful economic advancement for its graduates.
Our Lady of the Lake University demonstrates strong affordability across income levels, with net prices that make private education accessible to working-class families. Low-income students pay approximately $17,664 annually, while middle-income families see costs around $16,021—actually lower than what low-income students pay, reflecting the university's strategic financial aid approach. Even high-income families pay a reasonable $19,614 per year, making this one of the more affordable private options in Texas for families across the economic spectrum.
The university's financial aid strategy effectively reduces the sticker price burden while maintaining sustainable debt levels for graduates. Most students borrow federal loans, with typical debt loads around $25,000, which aligns well with the institution's graduate earning potential. Parent PLUS borrowing averages about $12,301, a modest level that suggests families can contribute meaningfully without taking on excessive debt. The combination of substantial grant aid and reasonable borrowing levels creates a financing model that works for the predominantly first-generation and Pell-eligible student body the university serves.
What makes Our Lady of the Lake particularly sustainable financially is how the debt levels align with graduate outcomes. With median earnings approaching $49,000 ten years out, most borrowers can manage their federal loan obligations comfortably, and the university's 0% federal loan default rate indicates that graduates successfully navigate their repayment responsibilities after graduation.
Our Lady Of The Lake University Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
