Degree Dividend
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Morningside University — ROI, Cost & Payback

Private nonprofit · Sioux City, IA · 1,163 students

The verdict

Morningside University charges a net price of $31,320/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $125,280. Graduates earn a median $55,494 ten years after entry, $7,134/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 17.6 years — a 20-year net return of $17,400, a slow but positive payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

Share
$31,320
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$55,494
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
17.6 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
71%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
Morningside University: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$31,320/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$125,280our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$55,494Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$7,134/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$26,028Scorecard, 2026
Payback17.6 yrsour math
20-year net return$17,400our math

College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.

How we compute this. Payback = total net cost ÷ annual earnings premium, where the premium is median earnings 10 years after entry minus the $48,360 baseline (BLS 2024 median for a high-school-diploma worker 25+). Total net cost = net price × 4 years. We do not discount future dollars. The institution-wide earnings figure blends every major — a specific program's payback can be far better or worse. Full method on the methodology page.