At $16,602/yr net price, William Jewell College graduates earn $59,268/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $25,268/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $16,602 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $66,408 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $59,268/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$25,268/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 2.6 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 61.6% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $24,498 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $9,227/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $7,862/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $11,954/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $17,573/yr |
| $110,001+ | $23,742/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $57,403 | $23,841 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | Bachelor | $43,798 | $25,000 |
| Communication and Media Studies. | Bachelor | $38,337 | |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Bachelor | $37,856 | $25,000 |
| Psychology, General. | Bachelor | $33,993 | $23,969 |
| English Language and Literature, General. | Bachelor | $26,896 |
The Risk Factor
61.6% of students at William Jewell College graduate within 6 years. A significant share of students finish, but roughly 38% do not complete their degree.
Analysis
William Jewell College gives you a solid but uneven financial return. At $16,602 net price per year, the median graduate earning $59,268 a decade out puts you in reasonable shape, and a median debt of $24,498 stays close to what one year of nursing pay covers. The 61.6% graduation rate and 76.5% retention are the weak spots: roughly a quarter of first-year students don't come back, and paying for years you don't finish is the fastest way to wreck the math.
Nursing is the clear winner. At $57,403 to start against $23,841 in debt, it pays down fast and feeds directly into the Kansas City hospital market next door in Liberty. That's the degree that makes the price tag work.
The rest is a step down. Business Administration graduates start at $37,856, communication majors at $38,337, and psychology at the bottom near $33,993 while carrying almost the same $24,000 debt as nursing. You take on nursing-level debt for less than nursing-level pay, and psychology in particular leaves you stretched. Liberal arts at $43,798 does slightly better but carries the highest debt on the list.
The net price tiers reward lower-income families. Under $48k, you pay under $9,000 a year, and the $30-48k band actually pays less than the poorest tier. Above $110k, you pay $23,742, and at that price the non-nursing majors are hard to justify.
Pick this school if you're heading into nursing, or if your family income keeps you in the lower-price tiers. If you're paying full freight for a psychology or communication degree, look harder at the numbers first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is William Jewell College worth the cost?
William Jewell College offers decent value with a net price of $16,602 and graduates earning $59,268 after 10 years. The nursing programs justify the cost with $57,403 average earnings, but other majors like psychology ($33,993) and communication ($38,337) show weaker returns.
What are the best paying majors at William Jewell College?
Nursing programs at William Jewell College lead earnings at $57,403, followed by liberal arts at $43,798. Business and communication majors earn significantly less at around $37,000-38,000 annually.
How much debt do William Jewell College graduates have?
William Jewell College graduates carry a median debt of $24,498. With starting salaries varying widely by major, nursing graduates can manage this debt load better than psychology or communication majors.
Does William Jewell College have good job outcomes?
William Jewell College has mixed job outcomes with a 61.6% graduation rate and average 10-year earnings of $59,268. Success depends heavily on your major, with nursing students seeing much better returns than liberal arts graduates.