Religious Education: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 16 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$267,452 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
1630.9 yrsModeled economic break-even
−99%Modeled 10-year ROI
$45,165Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$45,165Median reported earnings · year 4
$43,413Average reported earnings · year 5
$25,937Median federal debt
10thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
16Reporting programs
13With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $35,131
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $45,165
- Federal debt
- $25,937
- Reporting programs
- 16
Post-baccalaureate Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $57,871
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $55,572
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 6
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$40,261National median$45,16575th percentile$46,286
13 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
Find the colleges that fit your constraints
Keep this exact federal field and credential fixed, then narrow the reporting colleges by location, sector and federal debt.
15 matchesShowing up to 25 currently operating colleges
1Concordia University-NebraskaSeward, NE · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$55,729Federal debt$29,000Annual net price$23,9652Grace Christian UniversityWyoming, MI · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$52,314Federal debt$30,750Annual net price$12,4043Dallas Baptist UniversityDallas, TX · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$50,647Federal debt$21,500Annual net price$28,5164Trinity International University-IllinoisDeerfield, IL · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$46,286Federal debt$32,934Annual net price$2,8355College of Biblical Studies-HoustonHouston, TX · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$45,822Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$6726Grand Canyon UniversityPhoenix, AZ · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$45,165Federal debt$35,436Annual net price$22,4727Wheaton CollegeWheaton, IL · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$42,605Federal debt$25,000Annual net price$26,9758Franciscan University of SteubenvilleSteubenville, OH · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$40,987Federal debt$26,980Annual net price$23,5899Biola UniversityLa Mirada, CA · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$40,261Federal debt$25,454Annual net price$31,49510University of the CumberlandsWilliamsburg, KY · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$39,211Federal debt$23,371Annual net price$14,10711Crown CollegeSaint Bonifacius, MN · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$36,826Federal debt$25,937Annual net price$26,67212Moody Bible InstituteChicago, IL · Private nonprofitYear-4 earnings$36,770Federal debt$14,000Annual net price$22,22113Azusa Pacific UniversityAzusa, CA · Private nonprofitYear-4 earningsNot availableFederal debt$25,000Annual net price$22,21214Benedictine CollegeAtchison, KS · Private nonprofitYear-4 earningsNot availableFederal debt$24,625Annual net price$27,89115Messiah UniversityMechanicsburg, PA · Private nonprofitYear-4 earningsNot availableFederal debt$26,000Annual net price$26,502
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1Concordia University-Nebraska$55,7292Grace Christian University$52,3143Dallas Baptist University$50,6474Trinity International University-Illinois$46,2865College of Biblical Studies-Houston$45,8226Grand Canyon University$45,1657Wheaton College$42,6058Franciscan University of Steubenville$40,9879Biola University$40,26110University of the Cumberlands$39,211Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Directors, Religious Activities and EducationSOC 21-2021 · 1 crosswalk linksPhilosophy and Religion Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1126 · 1 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Concordia University-NebraskaBachelor's Degree | Seward, NE | $55,729 | $29,000 | -61% | Negative payoff |
| 2 | Grace Christian UniversityBachelor's Degree | Wyoming, MI | $52,314 | $30,750 | -68% | Negative payoff |
| 3 | Dallas Baptist UniversityBachelor's Degree | Dallas, TX | $50,647 | $21,500 | -81% | Negative payoff |
| 4 | Trinity International University-IllinoisBachelor's Degree | Deerfield, IL | $46,286 | $32,934 | -93% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | College of Biblical Studies-HoustonBachelor's Degree | Houston, TX | $45,822 | Not available | -96% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | Grand Canyon UniversityBachelor's Degree | Phoenix, AZ | $45,165 | $35,436 | -99% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | Wheaton CollegeBachelor's Degree | Wheaton, IL | $42,605 | $25,000 | -108% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | Franciscan University of SteubenvilleBachelor's Degree | Steubenville, OH | $40,987 | $26,980 | -115% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | Biola UniversityBachelor's Degree | La Mirada, CA | $40,261 | $25,454 | -115% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | University of the CumberlandsBachelor's Degree | Williamsburg, KY | $39,211 | $23,371 | -124% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | Crown CollegeBachelor's Degree | Saint Bonifacius, MN | $36,826 | $25,937 | -129% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | Moody Bible InstituteBachelor's Degree | Chicago, IL | $36,770 | $14,000 | -131% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | Azusa Pacific UniversityBachelor's Degree | Azusa, CA | Not available | $25,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $22,212 |
| 14 | Benedictine CollegeBachelor's Degree | Atchison, KS | Not available | $24,625 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $27,891 |
| 15 | Messiah UniversityBachelor's Degree | Mechanicsburg, PA | Not available | $26,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $26,502 |
| 16 | Trinity International University-FloridaBachelor's Degree | , | $46,286 | $32,934 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.