At $20,498/yr net price, University of the Incarnate Word graduates earn $56,733/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $22,733/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $20,498 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $81,992 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $56,733/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$22,733/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 3.6 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 51.8% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $27,000 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $17,434/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $18,203/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $20,732/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $23,772/yr |
| $110,001+ | $28,584/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration. | Doctoral | $131,177 | $219,290 |
| Optometry. | Doctoral | $96,345 | $238,257 |
| Education, General. | Doctoral | $84,653 | |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions. | Doctoral | $70,296 | $185,973 |
| Accounting and Related Services. | Master | $59,576 | $33,190 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $59,253 | $36,654 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services. | Master | $58,673 | $49,215 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $58,496 | $24,643 |
| Human Resources Management and Services. | Master | $56,415 | $34,843 |
| Education, General. | Master | $49,436 |
The Risk Factor
51.8% of students at University of the Incarnate Word graduate within 6 years. More than half of students finish, but the dropout rate is a real factor in whether this investment pays off.
Analysis
University of the Incarnate Word gives you a mixed financial return. Median earnings ten years out land near $57k against a median debt of $27k, so the debt-to-income math works if you finish. The problem is finishing: barely half of you graduate, and only 72% return after freshman year. If you drop out, you carry debt with no degree to pay it back.
Nursing is the clear win here. It pays the most of any bachelor's program on campus and comes with the lowest debt of the top earners, around $24,600. San Antonio's large hospital systems give nursing grads a reliable local job market, so this is the safest bet on the list.
The other programs are shakier. Human Resources Management and Allied Health both pay under $48k while loading you with over $32k in debt, worse debt for less pay than nursing. Engineering pays about $44k, low for that field, and if the number holds it undercuts the usual reason to study engineering. Health Services and the allied health track sit in the same low-$40k range.
Your net price scales hard with income. Under $30k, you pay about $17,400 a year. over $110k, that climbs to roughly $28,600. Lower-income families get a real discount, but $17k a year is still a large bill at a school where half of students don't graduate.
This school fits you if you're committed to nursing or a health field with a hospital-facing job in mind. Look elsewhere if you're drawn to HR, engineering, or a general allied health degree, where the debt outruns the paycheck. Before you enroll, be honest about whether you'll be in the half that graduates, because the debt lands either way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is University of the Incarnate Word worth the cost?
University of the Incarnate Word's value depends heavily on your program choice. Pharmacy and optometry graduates earn well above the $56,733 average, but most other programs produce earnings that barely justify the $27,000 median debt load.
What programs at University of the Incarnate Word have the best ROI?
Pharmacy ($131,177 median earnings) and optometry ($96,345) offer strong returns at University of the Incarnate Word. Education and rehabilitation programs provide decent outcomes, but most other majors struggle to justify their costs.
How much debt do University of the Incarnate Word graduates typically have?
University of the Incarnate Word graduates carry a median debt of $27,000. With average earnings of $56,733 ten years after graduation, this creates a manageable but not impressive debt-to-income ratio for most students.
Does University of the Incarnate Word have good graduation rates?
University of the Incarnate Word's 51.8% graduation rate is concerning and well below national averages. Nearly half of students who start here don't finish, which significantly increases the financial risk of attending.