Christian colleges that pay for themselves fastest in California
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 fastest in California11 schools
11 schools qualify, ranked by payback years.
How this list is made
- Schools in California.
- 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
Azusa Pacific University
Azusa, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- Pays back in about 4.9 years
- Earnings $66,677 ten years out
- 2
Fresno Pacific University
Fresno, CA · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 5.2 years
- Earnings $58,896 ten years out
- 3
Pepperdine University
Malibu, CA · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 6.7 years
- Earnings $82,939 ten years out
- 4
Westmont College
Santa Barbara, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- Pays back in about 7.1 years
- Earnings $64,778 ten years out
- 5
Vanguard University of Southern California
Costa Mesa, CA · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 7.6 years
- Earnings $59,541 ten years out
- 6
California Baptist University
Riverside, CA · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 8.0 years
- Earnings $61,504 ten years out
- 7
Point Loma Nazarene University
San Diego, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- Pays back in about 9.9 years
- Earnings $63,998 ten years out
- 8
La Sierra University
Riverside, CA · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 13.5 years
- Earnings $61,824 ten years out
- 9
William Jessup University
Rocklin, CA · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 14.2 years
- Earnings $56,257 ten years out
- 10
Biola University
La Mirada, CA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- Pays back in about 15.0 years
- Earnings $56,778 ten years out
- 11
Hope International University
Fullerton, CA · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 87.7 years
- Earnings $49,697 ten years out
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Azusa Pacific University | $22,212 | $23,219 | $66,677 | 62% |
| Fresno Pacific University | $13,630 | $23,146 | $58,896 | 50% |
| Pepperdine University | $58,098 | $23,510 | $82,939 | 83% |
| Westmont College | $29,053 | $23,250 | $64,778 | 70% |
| Vanguard University of Southern California | $21,241 | $22,000 | $59,541 | 57% |
| California Baptist University | $26,285 | $26,063 | $61,504 | 62% |
| Point Loma Nazarene University | $38,729 | $22,990 | $63,998 | 77% |
| La Sierra University | $45,566 | $27,000 | $61,824 | 60% |
| William Jessup University | $28,062 | $23,700 | $56,257 | 56% |
| Biola University | $31,495 | $23,875 | $56,778 | 68% |
| Hope International University | $29,310 | $23,000 | $49,697 | 49% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.