Is Newman University Worth It?

Newman University gives you a moderate but workable financial return. Median debt of $20,801 sits just below the $55,041 you can expect to earn ten years out, which keeps repayment manageable if you finish and land in a health field. The catch is finishing: only 54% of students graduate, and every year you pay net price without a degree turns this into a loss.

Health programs are where the money is. The allied health and nursing bachelor's degrees both clear $50,000, and nursing does it while holding debt near $20,000. Wichita has a steady hospital and clinic job market, so those credentials translate directly into local work. Teacher education pays far less at $36,437 while carrying the highest debt of any program here at $22,750, so you graduate owing more and earning less. The general biology track is the clear warning sign: $22,420 in median earnings against $19,000 in debt is a bad trade unless you use it as a step toward a graduate or professional program.

Your main risk is picking a low-earning major and not making it to graduation. The 71% retention rate means nearly three in ten first-year students leave, and dropping out with debt and no degree is the worst outcome this school produces.

Newman is a good fit for you if you want nursing or allied health and plan to work in the Wichita area. Look elsewhere, or treat it as a launching point to further study, if biology or general science is your goal. On price, the net cost barely moves across income levels, running about $15,800 for families earning $30-48k and $21,726 for families over $110k. Lower-income families don't get the steep discount you'd see at some private schools, so budget for close to full net price regardless of income.