Azusa Pacific University
Azusa, California · Private Nonprofit · 88.4% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 71/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Azusa Pacific University scores 71 (Fair Value), a result anchored almost entirely by its dominant nursing program. Registered Nursing produces 558 graduates - an unusually large cohort - with exceptional earnings that lift the campus averages significantly. Outside nursing, most programs at APU produce weak-to-adequate financial outcomes relative to the $44,458 tuition and $22,212 net price. The 61.8% completion rate is below average. APU is a large evangelical Christian university (2,759 graduate students) in the San Gabriel Valley, east of Los Angeles. The repayment rate of 65.7% (subscore 28) is the weakest metric - the large nursing cohort graduates into strong earnings, but the overall graduate population struggles with repayment.
Azusa Pacific University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $44,458/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $44,458/yr |
| Average net price | $22,212/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $88,848 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $66,677 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $48,300 |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,219 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $246 |
| Estimated payback period | 7.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 61.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,759 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $44,458/year. Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $22,212/year, or roughly $88,848 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $15,781/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $27,193/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $23,219 in federal loans, which works out to about $246 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $66,677 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.48, comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $15,781 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $20,495 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $22,998 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | N/A |
| $110,001+ | $27,193 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The lowest income bracket (0-$30,000) pays $15,781 per year at APU - lower than many evangelical California private colleges due to the school's aid packaging. With a 7.2-year payback at median earnings, low-income students who complete nursing or health programs face a strong return. Other programs are less favorable at this cost level.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families in the $48,001-75,000 range pay $22,998 per year. No data is available for the $75,001-110,000 bracket. Middle-income families considering APU should run program-specific scenarios; nursing at $23k annual cost is a strong value, but most other programs produce modest returns relative to the price.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $27,193 per year. At this price, the financial case at APU requires selecting nursing or a strong vocational program. The evangelical mission environment may hold independent value for high-income families who prioritize the cultural and religious community over earnings optimization.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Azusa Pacific University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $118,549 | B+ |
| Psychology | $63,963 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $78,900 | C+ |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $56,994 | D |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $22,233 | F |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $64,797 | - |
| Social Work | $33,089 | D |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $40,091 | C+ |
| Communication and Media Studies | $31,366 | D |
| Sociology | $29,683 | D |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing is the program that carries APU's ROI score: 558 graduates - an exceptional volume for any university - with $105,521 year-one earnings and $118,549 at year four. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.255 (ROI grade B+) reflects median debt of $26,898 against year-one earnings above $105k. Nurses in the Los Angeles metro earn at the top of the national scale, and APU's large nursing pipeline produces graduates who are quickly absorbed into regional hospital systems. This single program is responsible for much of the campus's Strong Value-adjacent score.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration graduates 79 students with $47,681 year-one and $78,900 at year four. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.522 (ROI grade C+) reflects median debt of $24,891 against $47k year-one - workable but not comfortable at a $22,212 net price. Year-four earnings of $78k reflect LA-area business market placement. The outcome is adequate but does not distinguish APU from lower-cost alternatives in the region.
Psychology
Psychology graduates 120 students with $32,435 year-one and $63,963 at year four. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.722 (ROI grade D) reflects median debt of $23,406 against year-one earnings that create a financially strained start. Year-four improvement to $63k suggests graduate clinical psychology or counseling paths, consistent with APU's strong graduate program in counseling. Students considering psychology at APU likely have graduate school intent; those who do not should weigh the near-term financial burden carefully.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology graduates 46 students with $22,233 year-one earnings. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.034 (ROI grade F) - debt exceeds one year's earnings. Median debt of $23,000 against $22k year-one earnings is an unsustainable early financial situation. Most kinesiology graduates either pursue graduate school in PT or OT (requiring additional debt) or enter fitness, coaching, or early-career health roles with very modest pay. This is the weakest program outcome at APU and one of the worst kinesiology outcomes on the site.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 61.9% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 65.7% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 72.3% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 79.5% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Azusa Pacific University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2023).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 88.4% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 468-623 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 515-615 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 25-30 |
| Enrollment | 2,759 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 35.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $10,419 |
At 88.4% acceptance, APU admits the large majority of applicants. The ACT 25-30 range is slightly above average, suggesting the school attracts students with reasonably solid academic preparation who have self-selected for the evangelical mission environment. Test scores are a secondary filter at most; mission alignment and academic eligibility are the primary factors.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
APU's peers include Art Center College of Design, Biola University, Iona University, Dominican University, and UT San Antonio. At ROI 71, APU scores as Fair Value - propped up significantly by its nursing program. Biola University, a peer evangelical California institution, would show similar nursing-driven dynamics. Chapman University (ROI 64) spends more money per student on a residential arts-focused experience and scores lower; APU's more practical professional program mix produces better average financial outcomes.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azusa Pacific University (this school) | 71 | $22,212 | $66,677 |
| Bethel University | 71 | $28,556 | $63,764 |
| Wheaton College | 70 | $26,975 | $63,756 |
| Westmont College | 65 | $29,053 | $64,778 |
| Calvin University | 65 | $22,992 | $58,375 |
| Wheaton College (Massachusetts) | 64 | $29,822 | $67,725 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See Azusa Pacific University side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
APU admits 88.4% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 468-623 Math and 515-615 Reading, ACT composite 25-30. This places it in the accessible range with somewhat below-average to average academic preparation. With 35.2% Pell recipients, the school serves a moderately economically diverse population. APU fits students who want an evangelical Christian university experience in the LA metro with strong nursing and health sciences programs. Students outside nursing who are focused on maximizing financial return will find better options - Cal State campuses at half the cost produce comparable or better earnings outcomes for most majors.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Azusa Pacific University is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $22,212 a year after aid ($88,848 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $66,677 a decade out, the cost takes about 7.2 years to earn back. That's roughly average - not a bargain, not a mistake.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, manageable debt relative to earnings. What to keep an eye on: concerning loan repayment rates.
Median debt of $23,219 against $66,677 in earnings is reasonable, though your major matters a lot here. Graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.