John Brown University
Siloam Springs, AR 72761
About John Brown University
John Brown University is a private research university in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, enrolling about 1,471 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 76.14% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $53,907 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- John Brown University charges 8% above the national private non-profit median tuition ($31,756).
- Versus the Arkansas median, sticker tuition is about 4.3×.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 71.79%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $53,907.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at John Brown University is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 561% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Finding
John Brown University awards credentials across a wide program mix.
IPEDS completions cover more than 53 distinct degree programs at this campus.
Interpretation: Institutional averages blend very different fields; program-level completions and earnings matter more than the campus mean alone.
Limitation: Completions counts are not enrollment demand and do not measure program quality.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Brown University | $31,756 | $20,397 | 1 |
| Private Non-profit (national median) | $29,325 | — | 1,444 |
| Arkansas (state median) | $7,334 | $9,144 | 51 |
| Town (locale median) | $9,600 | $14,971 | 1,517 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
Average net price is 36% below published tuition at John Brown University
Key findings
- John Brown University's average net price ($20,397) is 36% below published tuition ($31,756).
- John Brown University charges 8% above the national private non-profit median tuition ($31,756).
- Versus the Arkansas median, sticker tuition is about 4.3×.
John Brown University tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $31,756
Finding John Brown University charges 8% above the national private non-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $31,756. That is 8% above the national private non-profit median ($29,325). Versus the Arkansas median ($7,334), sticker tuition is about 4.3×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 2.7×.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to private non-profit and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at John Brown University versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at John Brown University versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at John Brown University is $20,397.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $20,397 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $11,253 above the Arkansas median net price. Versus town campuses, net price runs $5,426 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway John Brown University’s published tuition substantially overstates typical undergraduate cost: average net price is about 36% lower after grants and scholarships.
John Brown University: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for John Brown University—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$31,756
Avg. net price
$20,397
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $17,484 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $17,210 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $16,655 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $21,433 |
| $110,001+ | $24,627 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $127,024. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What John Brown University is known for
Top program completions
- Mental Health Counseling/Counselor71
- Business Administration and Management, General57
- Psychology, General37
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse26
- Family and Community Services23
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 37% of admitted students enrolled.
- Average SAT: 1195
- Midpoint ACT: 26
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is John Brown University a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
John Brown University is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for John Brown University.
Campus
Location
Siloam Springs, AR
City / state
- ZIP
- 72761
- NCES locale
- Town distant
Compared with Town campuses nationally, net price is 36% above the median for Town campuses ($14,971 median).
Control
Institution type
Private Non-profit
Control
- Region
- Southeast
- Carnegie
- Master's Colleges and Universities: Small Programs
Size
Enrollment
1,471
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 2,133
- Graduate
- 402
- Full-time share
- 95%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$21,250
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 23.70%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for John Brown University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at John Brown University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for John Brown University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $22,734 | $22,734 | $17,550 |
| 2014 | $23,588 | $23,588 | $19,034 |
| 2015 | $24,468 | $24,468 | $19,234 |
| 2016 | $25,324 | $25,324 | $18,777 |
| 2017 | $26,144 | $26,144 | $22,583 |
| 2018 | $26,928 | $26,928 | $22,210 |
| 2019 | $27,668 | $27,668 | $21,963 |
| 2020 | $28,288 | $28,288 | $21,957 |
| 2021 | $28,924 | $28,924 | $18,641 |
| 2022 | $29,720 | $29,720 | $20,404 |
| 2023 | $30,832 | $30,832 | $21,144 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Average 1195 (middle 50% not reported)
Midpoint 26 (middle 50% not reported)
Scores for enrollees who submitted tests (College Scorecard).
Academic Requirements
Estimated from admission selectivity and test scores. Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
Estimated range · median 3.20
Estimated GPA band from selectivity and test scores — not an official requirement.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
John Brown University reported total enrollment of about 1,471 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 45% male and 55% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (65.8%), Hispanic or Latino (13.4%), and Non-Resident Alien (10.1%). About 23.70% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 28.9% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
95.2% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at John Brown University in 2024 is 1,471 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 2,133 students. Graduate enrollment is about 402 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
81.5%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
66.77% 100% Completion Time
71.79% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 66.77% of students graduating from John Brown University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Mental Health Counseling/Counselor: 21% male / 79% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 47% male / 53% female
- Psychology, General: 27% male / 73% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
John Brown University graduates earn a median of $53,907 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of John Brown University.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $53,907. Median federal loan debt: $21,250. Average net price used in cost models: $20,397.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway John Brown University graduates report median earnings of $53,907 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for John Brown University.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (53 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at John Brown University.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for John Brown University graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for John Brown University—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$160.3M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Arkansas median 25× the median ($6.5M)
- Southeast median 8.2× the median ($19.4M)
- U.S. median 6.1× the median ($26.4M)
- Arkansas median 11× the median ($7,616)
- Southeast median 9.3× the median ($9,308)
- U.S. median 7.2× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 95.6%
- Arkansas median 32.8 pp above median (62.8%)
- Southeast median 36.1 pp above median (59.4%)
- U.S. median 37.6 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $7,468
- Arkansas median 1.3× the median ($5,571)
- Southeast median 1.1× the median ($6,825)
- U.S. median near the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $9,542
- Arkansas median 1.5× the median ($6,294)
- Southeast median 1.4× the median ($6,602)
- U.S. median 1.3× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
John Brown University at a glance
John Brown University
John Brown University is a private non-profit institution in Siloam Springs, AR, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Small Programs.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Mental Health Counseling/CounselorBusiness Administration and Management, GeneralPsychology, General
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian65.8%Hispanic or Latino13.4%Non-Resident Alien10.1%
Schools near John Brown University
Other campuses in Siloam Springs, AR when available, plus nearby institutions in Arkansas.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade B) within Arkansas, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is John Brown University located?
John Brown University is located in Siloam Springs, AR.
What is John Brown University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at John Brown University is 76.1% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 1,545 applicants and 1,045 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is John Brown University's tuition?
John Brown University tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $31,756 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $20,397 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does John Brown University cost?
Reported tuition is $31,756 and average net price is $20,397 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $10,362 annually.
Why is John Brown University's net price so much lower than tuition?
At John Brown University, published tuition is $31,756 while average net price is $20,397—about 36% lower. Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid (College Scorecard). Institutional aid therefore compresses sticker price into a lower typical undergraduate cost signal. The campus average still masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average. EDsmart Data treats the sticker–net gap as an analytical finding, not advice about individual aid offers.
What explains John Brown University's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($20,397), completion (71.8% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($53,907). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at John Brown University?
John Brown University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 2,133 students, White (65.8%), Hispanic or Latino (13.4%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend John Brown University?
About 28.9% of students at John Brown University are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for John Brown University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, John Brown University reports midpoint SAT about 1195 and midpoint ACT about 26.
What do graduates of John Brown University earn?
Median earnings are $46,114 six years after entry and $53,907 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at John Brown University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 71.8% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do John Brown University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $21,250.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.