California Baptist University
Riverside, California · Private Nonprofit · 84.9% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 53/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
California Baptist University scores 53 (Below Average Value), a result driven by a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.652, a 9.2-year payback period, and a repayment rate of 66.3%. Net price of $26,285 against average 6-year earnings of $40,000 is an uncomfortable ratio. The 61.9% completion rate is adequate. CBU is a large (8,179 students) Southern Baptist university in Riverside, California, with a broad program mix spanning nursing, engineering, business, and health sciences. The 42.1% Pell rate reflects a significant working-class and lower-middle-income student population. Program outcomes vary significantly - nursing is strong, while teaching, journalism, and film are financially problematic.
California Baptist University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $41,228/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $41,228/yr |
| Average net price | $26,285/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $105,140 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $61,504 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $40,000 |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,063 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $276 |
| Estimated payback period | 9.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 61.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 8,179 |
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: $41,228/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $26,285/year, or roughly $105,140 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 $22,298/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $33,971/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $26,063, which works out to about $276 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($40,000) and comes to 0.65, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
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 | $22,298 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $21,941 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $22,620 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $26,179 |
| $110,001+ | $33,971 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The lowest income bracket (0-$30,000) pays $22,298 per year at CBU - a high net cost for Pell-eligible families. With average earnings of $40,000 and a 9.2-year payback, low-income students face meaningful financial risk. The 42.1% Pell rate suggests the school serves a significant number of these families; their financial exposure relative to outcomes warrants careful planning.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families in the $48,001-75,000 range pay $22,620 per year, nearly identical to the lowest bracket. The $75,001-110,000 bracket pays $26,179. Net prices are compressed across income ranges, providing minimal differentiation for middle-income families. A 4-year total of $90,000-$105,000 for average earnings of $40,000 is a slow payback regardless of income band.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $33,971 per year. At full-pay, the financial case narrows to nursing and engineering. Business, kinesiology, and education students at full-pay are unlikely to see a financial return that justifies the $135,000+ four-year cost.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at California Baptist University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $80,632 | D |
| Registered Nursing | $108,157 | B |
| Psychology | $61,103 | D |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $60,816 | D |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $55,968 | D |
| Biology | $52,118 | D |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $65,603 | D |
| Teacher Education | $41,749 | F |
| Communication Disorders Sciences | $67,621 | C |
| Design and Applied Arts | $47,494 | 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 CBU's strongest program: 179 graduates, $92,441 year-one, $108,157 at year four. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.386 (ROI grade B) reflects median debt of $35,718. Year-one earnings above $92k are competitive in the Inland Empire/Riverside healthcare market.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering graduates 54 students with $72,224 year-one and $105,046 at year four. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.374 (ROI grade B) reflects median debt of $27,000 against strong early earnings. Year-four earnings above $105k reflect mid-career mechanical engineering compensation in a premium California market.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration graduates 183 students - the second-largest program - with $64,987 year-one and $80,632 at year four. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.756 (ROI grade D) is a warning: median debt of $49,129 against year-one earnings of nearly $65k creates a high monthly debt burden from day one. Year-one earnings are actually good; the problem is the disproportionately high debt.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology graduates 130 students with $35,328 year-one and $60,816 at year four. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.777 (ROI grade D) reflects median debt of $27,449 against modest year-one earnings. Kinesiology graduates typically pursue physical therapy, occupational therapy, or health administration careers that require graduate education; the year-one earnings of $35k reflect pre-professional roles. The four-year trajectory to $60k suggests those who pursue advanced study ultimately see better returns.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education graduates 61 students with $29,717 year-one and $41,749 at year four. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.052 (ROI grade F) is above 1.0 - debt exceeds full-year earnings. California teacher salaries are not low by national standards, but the debt load from a private university teacher credential program is difficult to service.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 59.0% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 66.3% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 64.8% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 68.8% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How California Baptist University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
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 | 84.9% |
| Enrollment | 8,179 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 42.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $10,941 |
At 84.9% acceptance, CBU is accessible to most applicants. No test score ranges are reported for current cohorts. The school's size and accessibility create a broad academic preparation range. Mission fit - Southern Baptist identity, community standards, faith integration - is a more meaningful admission filter than academic credentials for most applicants.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| California Baptist University (this school) | 53 | $26,285 | $61,504 |
| Azusa Pacific University | 71 | $22,212 | $66,677 |
| Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global | 61 | $16,898 | $59,986 |
| Art Center College of Design | 56 | $48,661 | $71,958 |
| Mercy University | 53 | $14,072 | $52,055 |
| Wilmington University | 51 | $15,644 | $53,844 |
Who Thrives Here
CBU admits 84.9% of applicants with no published test score data for current cohorts. It has 8,179 students. The 42.1% Pell rate reflects genuine economic diversity. CBU fits students who want a large evangelical university experience with a full range of academic programs, campus ministry, and access to the Inland Empire job market.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for California Baptist University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $26,285 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $61,504 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 9.2 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What to keep an eye on: a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 66.3% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $26,063 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $40,000 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
California Baptist University: Common Questions
Is California Baptist University worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. California Baptist University scores 53/100 on our ROI scale. At $26,285 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $61,504 ten years after entry, so it takes about 9.2 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does California Baptist University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $26,285 a year, or roughly $105,140 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do California Baptist University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $61,504 ten years after enrolling, roughly $19,704 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off California Baptist University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 9.2 years for California Baptist University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do California Baptist University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $26,063, against average earnings of $40,000 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at California Baptist University?
The six-year graduation rate is 61.9%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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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.