Bible/Biblical Studies programs
CIP 3902 · Theology & Religious Vocations · ranked by median earnings four years after completion
37 institutions report graduate earnings for Bible/Biblical Studies programs (College Scorecard, 2024-25). Across them the median is $46,756 four years after completion, with a typical debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.53× and 64% of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold. Indicatively, 10 of the 43 programs with both earnings and a benchmark fall below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026); the rest clear it.
| # | Institution | Earn 4yr | % > threshold | Median debt | Debt/earn | Earnings premium | 2 of 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Moody Bible InstituteIL · Master's | $66,956 n=45 | 71% 1yr | $18,000 | 0.27× | Below -2% | — |
| 2 | Grand Canyon UniversityAZ · Master's | $63,088 n=18 | — | $15,920 | 0.25× | Above +3% | — |
| 3 | Biola UniversityCA · Bachelor's | $58,569 n=31 | 69% 5yr | $27,000 | 0.46× | Above +52% | Clears 2/2 |
| 4 | Dallas Baptist UniversityTX · Bachelor's | $58,031 n=22 | 84% 5yr | $17,163 | 0.30× | Above +62% | Clears 2/2 |
| 5 | Carolina UniversityNC · Bachelor's | $56,995 n=22 | 53% 1yr | $21,029 | 0.37× | Above +66% | — |
| 6 | Biola UniversityCA · Master's | $56,442 n=33 | 68% 5yr | $29,727 | 0.53× | Below -25% | Below 2/2 |
| 7 | Maranatha Baptist UniversityWI · Bachelor's | $53,966 n=16 | — | — | — | Above +38% | — |
| 8 | Indiana Wesleyan University-MarionIN · Bachelor's | $53,497 n=24 | 100% | $31,740 | 0.59× | Above +43% | Clears 2/2 |
| 9 | Indiana Wesleyan University-National & GlobalIN · Bachelor's | $53,497 n=24 | 100% | $31,740 | 0.59× | Above +43% | Clears 2/2 |
| 10 | Denver SeminaryCO · Master's | $53,194 n=70 | 72% 1yr | $33,275 | 0.63× | Below -21% | — |
| 11 | University of Northwestern-St PaulMN · Bachelor's | $51,761 n=291 | 16% | $24,218 | 0.47× | Above +30% | Below 1/2 |
| 12 | Fresno Pacific UniversityCA · Bachelor's | $51,475 n=17 | — | $25,000 | 0.49× | Above +34% | — |
| 13 | Moody Bible InstituteIL · Bachelor's | $50,342 n=113 | 33% | $12,690 | 0.25× | Above +34% | Clears 2/2 |
| 14 | Freed-Hardeman UniversityTN · Bachelor's | $50,335 n=18 | 80% 5yr | $23,884 | 0.47× | Above +44% | Clears 2/2 |
| 15 | Regent UniversityVA · Bachelor's | $48,776 n=40 | 53% 1yr | $25,125 | 0.52× | Above +28% | — |
| 16 | Harding UniversityAR · Bachelor's | $48,762 n=30 | 82% 5yr | $19,913 | 0.41× | Above +43% | Clears 2/2 |
| 17 | Belhaven UniversityMS · Bachelor's | $48,516 n=29 | 55% 1yr | $29,748 | 0.61× | Above +47% | — |
| 18 | Clear Creek Baptist Bible CollegeKY · Bachelor's | $48,375 n=19 | — | — | — | Above +39% | Clears 2/2 |
| 19 | Trinity Bible College and Graduate SchoolND · Bachelor's | $48,009 n=18 | — | $23,000 | 0.48× | Above +17% | — |
| 20 | Liberty UniversityVA · UG cert | $47,160 n=56 | 50% 1yr | $20,956 | 0.44× | Above +24% | Below 1/2 |
| 21 | Crown CollegeMN · Bachelor's | $46,800 n=64 | 100% | $22,375 | 0.48× | Above +17% | Below 1/2 |
| 22 | Life Pacific UniversityCA · Bachelor's | $46,756 n=24 | 96% | $26,567 | 0.57× | Above +22% | Below 1/2 |
| 23 | Nelson UniversityTX · Associate | $45,704 n=205 | 22% | $26,500 | 0.58× | Above +28% | Clears 2/2 |
| 24 | Colorado Christian UniversityCO · Associate | $45,122 n=41 | 55% 1yr | $35,750 | 0.79× | Above +8% | — |
| 25 | Manhattan Christian CollegeKS · Bachelor's | $45,100 n=48 | 64% 1yr | $25,250 | 0.56× | Above +24% | — |
| 26 | Kentucky Christian UniversityKY · Bachelor's | $44,862 n=42 | 100% | $27,375 | 0.61× | Above +29% | Clears 2/2 |
| 27 | Lancaster Bible CollegePA · Bachelor's | $44,718 n=109 | 56% | $21,955 | 0.49× | Above +19% | Clears 2/2 |
| 28 | Midwestern Baptist Theological SeminaryMO · Bachelor's | $44,420 n=29 | 73% 1yr | $21,000 | 0.47× | Above +24% | — |
| 29 | Colorado Christian UniversityCO · Bachelor's | $44,270 n=50 | 63% 1yr | $43,750 | 0.99× | Above +6% | — |
| 30 | Nelson UniversityTX · Bachelor's | $43,808 n=23 | 82% 5yr | $29,618 | 0.68× | Above +23% | Clears 2/2 |
| 31 | Central Baptist CollegeAR · Bachelor's | $43,057 n=23 | — | — | — | Above +26% | — |
| 32 | Ozark Christian CollegeMO · Bachelor's | $40,548 n=105 | 55% | $19,313 | 0.48× | Above +13% | Below 1/2 |
| 33 | North Greenville UniversitySC · Bachelor's | $40,334 n=28 | — | $22,619 | 0.56× | Above +17% | Clears 2/2 |
| 34 | Johnson UniversityTN · Bachelor's | $39,600 n=70 | 100% | $23,250 | 0.59× | Above +13% | Clears 2/2 |
| 35 | Davis CollegeNY · Associate | $39,345 n=18 | — | $19,737 | 0.50× | Above +3% | — |
| 36 | Columbia International UniversitySC · Bachelor's | $38,117 n=101 | 50% | $20,500 | 0.54× | Above +11% | Below 1/2 |
| 37 | Boston Baptist CollegeMA · Bachelor's | $37,547 n=22 | — | $22,250 | 0.59× | Below -14% | — |
| 38 | SUM Bible College and Theological SeminaryCA · Bachelor's | $36,973 n=93 | 52% | $27,200 | 0.74× | Below -4% | Below 2/2 |
| 39 | Davis CollegeNY · Bachelor's | $36,947 n=45 | 60% | $25,000 | 0.68× | Below -3% | Below 2/2 |
| 40 | Northpoint Bible CollegeMA · Bachelor's | $35,108 n=51 | 51% | $27,000 | 0.77× | Below -19% | Below 2/2 |
| 41 | Lancaster Bible CollegePA · Associate | $29,886 n=29 | — | $18,473 | 0.62× | Below -21% | — |
| 42 | Appalachian Bible CollegeWV · Bachelor's | $28,980 n=35 | 57% | $12,500 | 0.43× | Below -18% | Below 2/2 |
| 43 | Mid-Atlantic Christian UniversityNC · Bachelor's | $26,873 n=19 | — | $24,250 | 0.90× | Below -22% | Below 1/2 |
% > threshold is ED's own share of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold, taken from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window. Earnings premium compares median earnings four years out to the U.S. Census ACS median for a high-school graduate (undergraduate credentials) or bachelor's-degree holder (graduate credentials) in the institution's state. 2 of 3 yrs flags programs below that benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years — the statutory trigger under the 2025 federal earnings-premium test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative estimates; the Department of Education's official determination may differ. Figures lag the current year by 2–3 years.
| State | Median earn 4yr | Programs |
|---|---|---|
| California | $51,475 | 5 |
| Texas | $45,704 | 3 |
| Colorado | $45,122 | 3 |
States with at least 3 reporting Bible/Biblical Studies programs, by median graduate earnings.
Which colleges have the highest-paying Bible/Biblical Studies programs?
By median earnings four years after completion, the highest-paying Bible/Biblical Studies programs in this dataset are Moody Bible Institute ($66,956), Grand Canyon University ($63,088), Biola University ($58,569). Earnings reflect College Scorecard field-of-study data (2024-25) and vary by credential level and location.
Are Bible/Biblical Studies programs at risk under the federal earnings-premium test?
Indicatively, 10 of the 43 Bible/Biblical Studies programs with both earnings and a state/national benchmark have median graduate earnings below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026), under which a program can lose Title IV eligibility if its graduates earn less than a typical worker without the credential for 2 of 3 years. This estimate uses College Scorecard earnings vs U.S. Census ACS medians; the Department of Education's official determination uses its own cohort definition and may differ.
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Source: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard Field of Study, 2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts plus the most-recent snapshot (2024-25); threshold pass-rates pooled across all nine releases. Earnings-premium benchmarks from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS). Compiled by Ibex Insights. See the methodology.