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Pfeiffer University — ROI, Cost & Payback

Private nonprofit · Misenheimer, NC · 655 students

The verdict

Pfeiffer University charges a net price of $19,076/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $76,304. Graduates earn a median $51,562 ten years after entry, $3,202/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 23.8 years — a 20-year net return of $-12,264, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

Share
$19,076
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$51,562
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
23.8 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
96%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
Pfeiffer University: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$19,076/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$76,304our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$51,562Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$3,202/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$26,163Scorecard, 2026
Payback23.8 yrsour math
20-year net return$-12,264our 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.