At $15,108/yr net price, Wayne State College graduates earn $47,075/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $13,075/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $15,108 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $60,432 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $47,075/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$13,075/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 4.6 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 55.7% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $19,000 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $11,461/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $11,502/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $14,607/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $17,749/yr |
| $110,001+ | $17,721/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Educational Administration and Supervision. | Master | $55,286 | $19,051 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $50,558 | $17,274 |
| Information Science/Studies. | Bachelor | $50,439 | |
| Curriculum and Instruction. | Master | $48,522 | $17,237 |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services. | Master | $44,091 | $27,852 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. | Bachelor | $38,108 | $23,896 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Bachelor | $37,503 | $16,861 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | Bachelor | $34,187 | $19,731 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. | Bachelor | $32,658 | $22,205 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology. | Bachelor | $32,284 | $20,396 |
The Risk Factor
55.7% of students at Wayne State College 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
Wayne State College gives you a low-cost degree with a modest payoff. You pay about $15,000 a year and carry $19,000 in median debt at graduation, which is manageable against the $47,075 you can expect to earn after ten years. That debt-to-earnings balance is the school's strongest financial feature.
Your major decides everything here. Information Science pays roughly $50,000 and lands you above the school median, making it the clear financial winner. Business Administration sits lower on earnings but pairs it with the lowest program debt on the list, so your loan burden stays light. The teaching and criminal justice tracks are where the math turns against you: education pays in the mid-$30,000s while stacking over $23,000 in debt, and criminal justice earns the least of any program while carrying similar debt. If you borrow full freight for those degrees, your first years out will be tight.
The real risk is finishing. Only 56% of students graduate and 73% return after freshman year, so more than one in four of you leaves. Debt without a degree is the worst outcome this school can hand you, and it happens to a meaningful slice of students.
Net price barely moves with income. If your family earns under $48,000, you pay around $11,500. Above $75,000, you pay closer to $17,700, and it flattens from there. Lower-income families get a real discount here. middle and upper-income families pay a fairly uniform rate.
This school fits you if you want a Nebraska-based degree in business or information systems at a low price and you intend to finish. Look elsewhere if you plan to borrow heavily for a teaching or criminal justice degree, since the earnings won't clear the debt comfortably.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wayne State College worth the cost compared to other Nebraska schools?
Wayne State College offers moderate value with a net price of $15,108 annually and 10-year earnings of $47,075. The relatively low debt load of $19,000 helps offset the below-average graduation rate of 56%.
What are the best paying majors at Wayne State College?
Educational Administration leads Wayne State College's earnings at $55,286, followed by Business Administration at $50,558 and Information Science at $50,439. Education and business programs generally provide the strongest return on investment at this school.
How much debt do Wayne State College graduates typically have?
Wayne State College graduates carry a median debt of $19,000, which is manageable given the school's low net price. This debt level is reasonable for most of the school's higher-paying programs.
Does Wayne State College have a good graduation rate for the money?
Wayne State College's 56% graduation rate is concerning for a school charging over $15,000 annually. Nearly half of students don't finish their degree, which significantly reduces the value proposition.