Nelson University
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and students who want small classes and close faculty access. no major red flags in the data. a private nonprofit school with 1,479 students.
About This School
Nelson University is a private nonprofit institution located in Waxahachie, Texas with approximately 1,479 undergraduate students enrolled. Nelson University has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 89%. The average net price after financial aid is $21,662 per year. The graduation rate is 42%, and the typical graduate earns $38,700 within 10 years of enrollment.
Nelson University, formerly Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU), is a private Christian university in Waxahachie, Texas, United States. Nelson is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and endorsed by the Assemblies of God USA. The university offers associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in liberal arts programs as well as programs in Bible and church ministries.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: while the $14,750 median debt at graduation is reassuringly low and relatively accessible at 84% acceptance, the 36% graduation rate is a real concern — fewer than 4 in 10 students who start here finish, which is worth taking seriously. This is a strong option specifically for students committed to Assemblies of God faith formation and ministry-focused careers, but if you're drawn primarily to academics or career earnings (median income sits at $38,700 a decade out), you'll want to weigh whether the fit is truly right before enrolling.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 19% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries | 57 | $39,707 | $42,915 | −$3,208 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 40 | $47,277 | $53,072 | −$5,795 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 32 | $52,229 | $68,257 | −$16,028 |
| Bible/Biblical Studies | 15 | $43,808 | $44,533 | −$725 |
| Marketing | 7 | $66,477 | $69,303 | −$2,826 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 6 | $43,110 | $55,378 | −$12,268 |
| Education, General | 2 | $50,491 | $49,808 | +$683 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (1,479 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
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See How Colleges Compare
Nelson University is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Nelson University?
Nelson University has an acceptance rate of 89%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Nelson University hard to get into?
Not especially. Nelson University has an acceptance rate of 89%, so admissions are relatively accessible for applicants who meet the requirements.
How much does Nelson University cost?
The average net price at Nelson University is about $21,662 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Nelson University?
Nelson University has a graduation rate of 42%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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