Howard Payne University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Brownwood, Texas. It enrolls 713 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Fair
48/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes5
Value22
Affordability55
Selectivity39
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 67.4%, Howard Payne University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
67.4%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
880 – 1160
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
16 – 27
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Howard Payne University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
13.8 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Howard Payne University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $23,627 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$23,627
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
44%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
69%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$34,982
Room & Board (on-campus)
$10,200
Room & Board (off-campus)
$17,598
Books & Supplies
$1,500
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,894
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,214
Total Cost of Attendance
$46,766
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$24,043
$30,001 – $48,000
$21,423
$48,001 – $75,000
$25,917
$75,001 – $110,000
$23,412
Over $110,000
$24,182
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$2,75010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$26,793Medianpercentile
$23,50075%percentile
$33,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $14,250
↓ $12,543
No Pell $9,500
↓ $17,293
Dependent students $11,000
↓ $15,793
Independent students $23,025
↓ $3,768
Female students $15,000
↓ $11,793
Male students $9,625
↓ $17,168
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($26,793), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
36% of full-time students who enrolled at Howard Payne University graduate within six years, and 53% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
36%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
53%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Howard Payne University earn a median of $48,376 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$48,376
Earning > $25K
78%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$35,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$44,500
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$40,400
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$40,500
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$40,700
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $8,800, about 20% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
13.0 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 81% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Howard Payne University is home to 713 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 37% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
713
Part-Time
7%
First-Generation
37%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 49.5%353
Hispanic 29.6%211
Black 9.7%69
Other 5.6%40
Asian 0.6%4
International 0.3%2
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Howard Payne University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: RemoteBrownwood, Texas
Housing
Strongly residential701 beds for 713 students
Adult Learners
9%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Howard Payne University offers
a varied set of programs:
28 distinct programs across
18 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Howard Payne University is 10:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
10:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$127M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$57,962
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
52 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
18
35%
$66,825
Associate Professors
11
21%
$52,982
Assistant Professors
19
37%
$54,810
Instructors
4
8%
$46,749
Pros & Cons of Howard Payne University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Howard Payne University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
Above-average net price
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Most students take on federal loans
Best for:
Based on the data, Howard Payne University is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Howard Payne University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Howard Payne University.
Is Howard Payne University hard to get into?
Admissions at Howard Payne University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 67.4%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Howard Payne University?
Howard Payne University has an acceptance rate of 67.4%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Howard Payne University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Howard Payne University scored between 880 and 1160 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Howard Payne University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Howard Payne University scored between 16 and 27 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Howard Payne University cost?
The average net price after aid at Howard Payne University is $23,627 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Howard Payne University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $48,376 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $23,627 per year. That's roughly 2.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Howard Payne University known for?
Howard Payne University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Teaching Specific Subjects, Criminology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Howard Payne University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Howard Payne University are $48,376, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Howard Payne University accredited?
Yes. Howard Payne University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Howard Payne University?
Howard Payne University enrolls 713 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Howard Payne University?
Howard Payne University graduates 36% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Howard Payne University a public or private college?
Howard Payne University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Howard Payne University located?
Howard Payne University is located in Brownwood, Texas.
What programs does Howard Payne University offer?
Howard Payne University offers 28 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Teaching Specific Subjects, Criminology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Howard Payne University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Howard Payne University is 10:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
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