Christian colleges that pay for themselves fastest in Texas
Christian colleges ranked by how many years of extra earnings, above a high school graduate’s, cover four years of net price.
Christian colleges that pay for themselves fastest in Texas9 schools
9 schools qualify, ranked by payback years.
How this list is made
- Schools in Texas.
- Christian undergraduate colleges on the Compass. Seminaries and graduate-only schools are not counted.
- Faith grade B or better (Faith score 70 or higher). Cost and outcomes never change a grade.
- Has median earnings ten years after enrolling and a net price from federal data (College Scorecard), and those earnings are above a high school graduate’s ($48,360 a year: median weekly earnings of $930 for full-time workers with a high school diploma, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Payback years = four years of net price ÷ (earnings − a high school graduate’s earnings). Ordered by payback years, fewest first. A simple estimate: it leaves out interest, taxes and earnings growth.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Concordia University Texas
Austin, TX · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 7.4 years
- Earnings $60,883 ten years out
- 2
Baylor University
Waco, TX · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 9.4 years
- Earnings $65,793 ten years out
- 3
LeTourneau University
Longview, TX · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 12.9 years
- Earnings $57,103 ten years out
- 4
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
Belton, TX · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 13.4 years
- Earnings $56,132 ten years out
- 5
Dallas Baptist University
Dallas, TX · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 13.5 years
- Earnings $56,807 ten years out
- 6
Southwestern Adventist University
Keene, TX · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 19.9 years
- Earnings $52,946 ten years out
- 7
East Texas Baptist University
Marshall, TX · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 21.6 years
- Earnings $52,788 ten years out
- 8
Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 23.7 years
- Earnings $51,838 ten years out
- 9
Howard Payne University
Brownwood, TX · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 5906.8 years
- Earnings $48,376 ten years out
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concordia University Texas | $23,131 | $21,852 | $60,883 | 45% |
| Baylor University | $41,104 | $23,000 | $65,793 | 80% |
| LeTourneau University | $28,185 | $26,000 | $57,103 | 59% |
| University of Mary Hardin-Baylor | $26,106 | $26,000 | $56,132 | 49% |
| Dallas Baptist University | $28,516 | $21,591 | $56,807 | 57% |
| Southwestern Adventist University | $22,778 | $26,998 | $52,946 | 52% |
| East Texas Baptist University | $23,911 | $23,250 | $52,788 | 47% |
| Wayland Baptist University | $20,590 | $23,106 | $51,838 | 19% |
| Howard Payne University | $23,627 | $26,793 | $48,376 | 28% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.