Nelson University
Nelson University is a private research university in Waxahachie, Texas, enrolling about 1,479 students. Admission is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of about 89.02% in federal reporting data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $46,238 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $25,064
- 2024 Average Net Price: $21,662 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 89.02% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 1,479 86.7% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 41.56%
- Average SAT Score: 980
Nelson University: what the data shows
Common questions about Nelson University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Nelson University?
Nelson University is located in Waxahachie, TX (ZIP 75165).
NCES locale classification: Rural fringe.
Is Nelson University public or private?
Nelson University is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does Nelson University cost?
Published tuition: $25,064.
Average net price after aid: $21,662.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $17,583 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $18,396 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $21,731 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $23,883 |
| $110,001+ | $25,474 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $100,256.
How hard is it to get into Nelson University?
Admission rate: 89.02%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 980 and midpoint ACT 20.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Nelson University?
Total enrollment: 1,479 students.
About 87% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Nelson University?
150%-time completion rate: 41.56%.
First-year retention: 75.2%.
What do graduates of Nelson University earn?
Median earnings: $37,425 six years after entry; $46,238 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $24,725.
47.80% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Nelson University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Other/Unknown Programs (372 completions)
- CIP 390799 (48 completions)
- CIP 520201 (39 completions)
- Agricultural Business and Management (35 completions)
- CIP 240102 (32 completions)
- Public Administration and Social Service (21 completions)
- CIP 390699 (20 completions)
- CIP 390201 (19 completions)
- CIP 520213 (19 completions)
- General Psychology (16 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Nelson University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 89.02%; completion rate 41.56%; median earnings $46,238 at 10 years; net price $21,662. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Costs
Tuition Costs
$25,064
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Nelson University was $25,064.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$21,662
2024 Value
In 2024 Nelson University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $21,662.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$86,648 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$21,662 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$100,256 4-Year Tuition
Costs include tuition and fees. Room & board, books, and other expenses are additional.
4-year total cost breakdown for Nelson University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
47.80% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
61.33% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Nelson 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 Nelson 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 | $17,830 | $17,830 | $21,772 |
| 2014 | $18,580 | $18,580 | $23,698 |
| 2015 | $19,180 | $19,180 | $24,819 |
| 2016 | $19,560 | $19,560 | $26,271 |
| 2017 | $19,994 | $19,994 | $24,909 |
| 2018 | $19,582 | $19,582 | $25,240 |
| 2019 | $19,834 | $19,834 | $24,982 |
| 2020 | $19,834 | $19,834 | $23,976 |
| 2021 | $17,404 | $17,404 | $22,440 |
| 2022 | $17,782 | $17,782 | $20,417 |
| 2023 | $18,610 | $18,610 | $19,655 |
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.
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
89.02% Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 980
ACT Average: 20
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.0 - 3.4
Estimated Median GPA: 3.20
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
86.7% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Nelson University in 2024 is 1,479 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
75.2%
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.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
29.38% 100% Completion Time
41.56% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 29.38% of students graduating from Nelson University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Nelson University.
Return on Investment
$24,725 Median Student Debt
$46,238 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
53.47% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
433.63% Return on Investment
5.3 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Nelson University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 Programs Reporting Data
CIP 39.0799: 48 completions
CIP 52.0201: 39 completions
Agricultural Business and Management: 35 completions
CIP 24.0102: 32 completions
Public Administration and Social Service: 21 completions
CIP 39.0699: 20 completions
CIP 39.0201: 19 completions
CIP 52.0213: 19 completions
General Psychology: 16 completions
Other/Unknown Programs: 372 completions
Most popular programs at Nelson University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Nelson University graduates.
About
Nelson University is a private non-profit institution located in Waxahachie, TX, offering 39 distinct degree programs across various academic disciplines. The institution enrolls approximately 1,479 students. The admission rate is 89.02%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 980. The institution maintains a 41.56% graduation rate. Approximately 47.80% of students receive Pell Grants.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Location
Waxahachie, TX 75165
Region: Southwest
Insights and Analysis
Nelson University provides educational opportunities for students seeking higher education. Prospective students should carefully evaluate all factors including costs, outcomes, and program offerings when making their enrollment decisions.
FAQ
How much does Nelson University cost?
Reported in-state tuition is $25,064 and average net price is $21,662 in the latest College Scorecard data.
How hard is it to get into Nelson University?
The admission rate is 89.0% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data.
What test scores do students need for Nelson University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Nelson University reports midpoint SAT about 980 and midpoint ACT about 20.
What do graduates of Nelson University earn?
Median earnings are $37,425 six years after entry and $46,238 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Nelson University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 41.6% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Nelson University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $24,725.
How big is Nelson University?
Total enrollment is about 1,479 students in the latest reporting year.
Is Nelson University public or private?
Nelson University is a private nonprofit institution located in Waxahachie, TX.
Is Nelson University an HBCU?
No. Nelson University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Nelson University a tribal college?
No. Nelson University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Nelson University a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
By the common federal eligibility proxy used here (≥25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard), yes—Nelson University reports 28.9% Hispanic enrollment share.
Is Nelson University religiously affiliated?
Yes. IPEDS reports a religious affiliation for Nelson University: Assemblies of God Church.
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 for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.