Christian colleges that pay for themselves fastest
Christian colleges ranked by how many years of extra earnings, above a high school graduate’s, cover four years of net price.
Christian colleges that pay for themselves fastest73 schools
73 schools qualify, ranked by payback years. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Christian undergraduate colleges on the Compass. Seminaries and graduate-only schools are not counted.
- Faith grade B or better (Faith score 70 or higher). Cost and outcomes never change a grade.
- Has median earnings ten years after enrolling and a net price from federal data (College Scorecard), and those earnings are above a high school graduate’s ($48,360 a year: median weekly earnings of $930 for full-time workers with a high school diploma, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Payback years = four years of net price ÷ (earnings − a high school graduate’s earnings). Ordered by payback years, fewest first. A simple estimate: it leaves out interest, taxes and earnings growth.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Washington Adventist University
Takoma Park, MD · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 4.7 years
- Earnings $64,249 ten years out
- 2
Azusa Pacific University
Azusa, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- Pays back in about 4.9 years
- Earnings $66,677 ten years out
- 3
Fresno Pacific University
Fresno, CA · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 5.2 years
- Earnings $58,896 ten years out
- 4
North Park University
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 6.0 years
- Earnings $59,572 ten years out
- 5
Concordia University-Saint Paul
Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 6.4 years
- Earnings $59,871 ten years out
- 6
Pepperdine University
Malibu, CA · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 6.7 years
- Earnings $82,939 ten years out
- 7
Walla Walla University
College Place, WA · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 6.9 years
- Earnings $61,885 ten years out
- 8
Wheaton College
Wheaton, IL · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- Pays back in about 7.0 years
- Earnings $63,756 ten years out
- 9
Westmont College
Santa Barbara, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- Pays back in about 7.1 years
- Earnings $64,778 ten years out
- 10Tie
Concordia University Texas
Austin, TX · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 7.4 years
- Earnings $60,883 ten years out
- 10Tie
Bethel University
Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 7.4 years
- Earnings $63,764 ten years out
- 12
Vanguard University of Southern California
Costa Mesa, CA · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 7.6 years
- Earnings $59,541 ten years out
- 13
King University
Bristol, TN · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 7.8 years
- Earnings $59,831 ten years out
- 14
California Baptist University
Riverside, CA · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 8.0 years
- Earnings $61,504 ten years out
- 15
Calvin University
Grand Rapids, MI · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 9.2 years
- Earnings $58,375 ten years out
- 16
Judson University
Elgin, IL · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 9.3 years
- Earnings $56,313 ten years out
- 17
Baylor University
Waco, TX · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 9.4 years
- Earnings $65,793 ten years out
- 18
Point Loma Nazarene University
San Diego, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- Pays back in about 9.9 years
- Earnings $63,998 ten years out
- 19
Andrews University
Berrien Springs, MI · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 10.4 years
- Earnings $53,187 ten years out
- 20
George Fox University
Newberg, OR · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- Pays back in about 11.1 years
- Earnings $59,761 ten years out
- 21Tie
Concordia University-Chicago
River Forest, IL · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 12.9 years
- Earnings $54,089 ten years out
- 21Tie
LeTourneau University
Longview, TX · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 12.9 years
- Earnings $57,103 ten years out
- 23Tie
Southern Nazarene University
Bethany, OK · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 13.4 years
- Earnings $54,951 ten years out
- 23Tie
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
Belton, TX · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 13.4 years
- Earnings $56,132 ten years out
- 25
Dallas Baptist University
Dallas, TX · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 13.5 years
- Earnings $56,807 ten years out
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Adventist University | $18,526 | $30,500 | $64,249 | 29% |
| Azusa Pacific University | $22,212 | $23,219 | $66,677 | 62% |
| Fresno Pacific University | $13,630 | $23,146 | $58,896 | 50% |
| North Park University | $16,948 | $25,500 | $59,572 | 58% |
| Concordia University-Saint Paul | $18,462 | $17,832 | $59,871 | 46% |
| Pepperdine University | $58,098 | $23,510 | $82,939 | 83% |
| Walla Walla University | $23,329 | $26,842 | $61,885 | 60% |
| Wheaton College | $26,975 | $23,250 | $63,756 | 85% |
| Westmont College | $29,053 | $23,250 | $64,778 | 70% |
| Concordia University Texas | $23,131 | $21,852 | $60,883 | 45% |
| Bethel University | $28,556 | $21,500 | $63,764 | 71% |
| Vanguard University of Southern California | $21,241 | $22,000 | $59,541 | 57% |
| King University | $22,347 | $22,750 | $59,831 | 48% |
| California Baptist University | $26,285 | $26,063 | $61,504 | 62% |
| Calvin University | $22,992 | $23,250 | $58,375 | 74% |
| Judson University | $18,558 | $25,000 | $56,313 | 60% |
| Baylor University | $41,104 | $23,000 | $65,793 | 80% |
| Point Loma Nazarene University | $38,729 | $22,990 | $63,998 | 77% |
| Andrews University | $12,547 | $26,000 | $53,187 | 72% |
| George Fox University | $31,679 | $24,250 | $59,761 | 72% |
| Concordia University-Chicago | $18,436 | $23,000 | $54,089 | 36% |
| LeTourneau University | $28,185 | $26,000 | $57,103 | 59% |
| Southern Nazarene University | $22,084 | $21,900 | $54,951 | 51% |
| University of Mary Hardin-Baylor | $26,106 | $26,000 | $56,132 | 49% |
| Dallas Baptist University | $28,516 | $21,591 | $56,807 | 57% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.