Central Christian College of Kansas
McPherson, Kansas · Private Nonprofit · 52.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 28/100 · Poor Value
Central Christian College of Kansas earns an overall ROI score of 28 (Poor Value). The small Christian college in McPherson, KS charges $21,000 in tuition with an average net price of just $11,404 -- one of the lower net prices in the private nonprofit sector. Four-year cost runs $45,616, which is genuinely affordable. The problem is what happens after enrollment. Completion is just 27%, meaning nearly three in four entering students leave without a degree. For those who do graduate, median earnings are $30,400 six years out and $44,468 at 10 years, with $27,000 median debt and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.888. Payback runs 19.6 years. Repayment is moderate at 73.9% three-year. The verdict: this is not a high-cost trap but a high-attrition one. The institution's price structure is sympathetic to working-class families, but the completion math erases that advantage for most enrollees. The net-price-by-income data also shows inverted brackets where the 30-48K cohort pays $5,816 while higher brackets pay more -- a discount pattern worth understanding before enrolling.
The data raises concerns about Central Christian College of Kansas
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score28/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- 6-year graduation rate27.0% - Well below the 60% national average. Non-completion is the fastest route to negative ROI.
- Payback period19.6 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Central Christian College of Kansas
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $21,000/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $21,000/yr |
| Average net price | $11,404/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $45,616 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $44,468 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $30,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 19.6 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 27.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 380 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Central Christian College of Kansas is $21,000/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $11,404/year, or roughly $45,616 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $11,689/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $15,113/year.
The median graduate leaves with $27,000 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $286 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $44,468 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.89 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
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 | $11,689 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $5,816 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $10,941 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $17,373 |
| $110,001+ | $15,113 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30K pay $11,689 net -- a workable number against any reasonable post-graduate earnings. Four-year cost is roughly $47K. The risk here is not cost but completion. Pell-eligible students who can finish will be in a strong position; the 73% who do not are the concern.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 30-48K bracket pays $5,816 -- the lowest of any income tier and one of the lowest figures in the private nonprofit sector. Flag: this is an inverted bracket, with this cohort paying less than the lowest-income tier. The 48-75K bracket pays $10,941 (still excellent) but the 75-110K bracket jumps to $17,373. Aid is highly need-targeted at the lower-middle band.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families over $110K pay $15,113 -- actually less than the 75-110K bracket ($17,373), another inverted pattern. At $60K four-year cost, this is still affordable for the income band. The bigger question for high-income families is whether the mission fit justifies the completion risk.
Earnings by Major
Top 4 most popular majors at Central Christian College of Kansas with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $47,201 | D |
| Psychology | $43,002 | D |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $74,997 | C |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $46,060 | F |
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.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice is Central Christian's strongest performer at a C grade. Graduates earn $55,453 one year out and $74,997 at four years against $36,076 median debt. The debt is heavier than the institutional median (suggesting students in this program borrow more), but earnings trajectory is robust enough to absorb it. Debt-to-earnings of 0.651 is workable. 17 graduates per cycle.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration shows an unusual pattern -- $54,848 first-year earnings but only $47,201 at four years, meaning early-career grads start strong but mid-career earnings stall. Median debt is $48,554 (very high for the school) producing a 0.885 ratio. D grade. 26 graduates. The high debt load combined with stalled mid-career earnings makes this a poor financial track despite the strong starting wage.
Psychology
Psychology pulls a D grade with 21 graduates. Median debt $37,500 against $43,002 four-year earnings -- a 0.872 debt-to-earnings ratio. The undergraduate debt load is heavy for a discipline that typically requires graduate study to reach professional wages. Students considering this path need a clear graduate-school strategy.
Health and Medical Administrative Services
Health and Medical Administrative Services earns an F with just 4 graduates. Debt of $48,000 against $39,637 first-year earnings produces a 1.211 ratio -- meaning students owe more than they earn in a year. This is a small program where individual outcomes drive the average, but at this scale the data is a warning sign for prospective enrollees.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 69.4% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 73.9% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 60.1% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 72.5% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 52.7% |
| Enrollment | 380 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 52.4% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $4,534 |
Central Christian admits 52.7% of applicants. SAT and ACT mid-ranges are not reported, which is typical for small faith-based privates that admit many students test-optional. The selectivity is moderate, but the 27% completion rate suggests admissions readiness is mixed and academic support infrastructure is limited at this enrollment scale (380 students).
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Peers on CampusROI include Baker University, Benedictine College, University of the Southwest, York University, and Touro University Worldwide. Baker and Benedictine are stronger Kansas faith-based privates with significantly better completion economics. University of the Southwest is a comparable small Christian school with similar challenges. Benedictine is the most informative comparison -- same state, similar mission, much higher completion -- suggesting that small Christian colleges can achieve significantly better outcomes when scale and academic support reach a threshold Central Christian has not hit.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Christian College of Kansas (this school) | 28 | $11,404 | $44,468 |
| Asbury University | 29 | $21,401 | $42,368 |
| Belhaven University | 29 | $15,676 | $46,440 |
| Liberty University | 28 | $29,357 | $44,813 |
| Lee University | 27 | $18,878 | $43,222 |
| Howard Payne University | 27 | $23,627 | $48,376 |
Who Thrives Here
Central Christian fits students drawn to evangelical Christian formation in a tiny (380-student) community, where the affordability story is real for low-income families. Pell rate is 52.4% -- this is a working-class student body. The institution serves a niche, and for the right student the cost structure works, but the 27% completion rate is the dominant risk factor any family must weigh. Criminal Justice is the most defensible academic track here.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Central Christian College of Kansas. With a net cost of $11,404 per year and median graduate earnings of only $44,468 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 19.6 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 27.0% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn and a long payback period.
Median debt of $27,000 against $44,468 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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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.