Nelson University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Waxahachie, Texas. It enrolls 1,479 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
55/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes37
Value25
Affordability62
Selectivity16
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 89%, Nelson University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
89%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
890 – 1090
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyRequiredSAT or ACT scores must be submitted with the application.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Nelson University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↓
3.3 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Nelson 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 $21,662 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$21,662
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
48%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
61%
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
$25,064
Room & Board (on-campus)
$9,598
Room & Board (off-campus)
$15,116
Books & Supplies
$1,434
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$6,316
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,250
Total Cost of Attendance
$34,504
Application fee: $35 (one-time, due at submission)
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
$17,583
$30,001 – $48,000
$18,396
$48,001 – $75,000
$21,731
$75,001 – $110,000
$23,883
Over $110,000
$25,474
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
$24,725Medianpercentile
$26,50075%percentile
$39,50090%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 $15,321
↓ $9,404
No Pell $11,500
↓ $13,225
Dependent students $13,000
↓ $11,725
Independent students $16,634
↓ $8,091
Female students $16,250
↓ $8,475
Male students $12,125
↓ $12,600
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,250, less than completers ($24,725), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
39% of full-time students who enrolled at Nelson University graduate within six years, and 78% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
39%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
78%
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 Nelson University earn a median of $46,238 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$46,238
Earning > $25K
74%
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
$31,600
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$44,400
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$37,200
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$38,300
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$40,900
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $12,800, about 29% 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 ↑
15.0 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 77% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Nelson University is home to 1,479 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 38% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
1,479
Part-Time
13%
First-Generation
38%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 49.0%724
Hispanic 28.9%428
Black 11.6%171
Other 7.6%113
Asian 1.1%16
International 0.7%11
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Nelson University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbWaxahachie, Texas
Housing
Mostly residential848 beds on campus
Adult Learners
16%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
Nelson University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
54 distinct programs across
16 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 Nelson University is 15:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
15:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$48M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$57,295
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
61 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
23
38%
$59,259
Associate Professors
10
16%
$62,990
Assistant Professors
18
30%
$56,211
Instructors
10
16%
$49,031
Pros & Cons of Nelson University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Nelson University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Tight-knit, close community feel
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
Best for:
Based on the data, Nelson University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Nelson University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Nelson University.
Is Nelson University hard to get into?
Nelson University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 89%.
What is the acceptance rate at Nelson University?
Nelson University has an acceptance rate of 89%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Nelson University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Nelson University scored between 890 and 1090 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
How much does Nelson University cost?
The average net price after aid at Nelson University is $21,662 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Nelson University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $46,238 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $21,662 per year. That's roughly 2.1x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Nelson University known for?
Nelson University is best known for its programs in Religion/Religious Studies, Bible/Biblical Studies, Pastoral Counseling. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Nelson University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Nelson University are $46,238, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Nelson University accredited?
Yes. Nelson University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Nelson University?
Nelson University enrolls 1,479 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Nelson University?
Nelson University graduates 39% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Nelson University a public or private college?
Nelson University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Nelson University located?
Nelson University is located in Waxahachie, Texas.
What programs does Nelson University offer?
Nelson University offers 54 distinct programs. The most popular include Religion/Religious Studies, Bible/Biblical Studies, Pastoral Counseling.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Nelson University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Nelson University is 15:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Texas
Other colleges in Texas share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
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