Criswell College
Dallas, Texas · Private Nonprofit · 100.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 31/100 · Poor Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Criswell College is a small Southern Baptist theological institution in Dallas, Texas, scoring 31 (Poor Value) on the CampusROI scale. Enrollment is just 132 students. The payback period is 27.7 years - the second-longest in our dataset - reflecting a combination of modest earnings and a net price of $21,630 that exceeds the in-state tuition of $15,750 after fees. Median 6-year earnings are not reported by Scorecard (listed as null); Scorecard reports 10-year earnings of $43,185. The debt-to-earnings ratio, repayment rates, and completion-related sub-scores are partly imputed due to data gaps (dataCompleteness: 0.8), meaning the score carries more uncertainty than a school with full data. The 50% completion rate and 27.7-year payback are the data points that drive the Poor Value designation. The institution has no programs reported in the Scorecard programs array. Criswell is explicitly a ministry-focused institution - its value proposition is theological training and vocational preparation for Baptist ministry, not earnings-based ROI. For students seeking that specific mission context, earnings metrics are a secondary consideration.
The data raises concerns about Criswell College
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score31/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Payback period27.7 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Criswell College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $15,750/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $15,750/yr |
| Average net price | $21,630/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $86,520 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $43,185 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | N/A |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,346 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $269 |
| Estimated payback period | 27.7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 50.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 132 |
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: $15,750/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 $21,630/year, or roughly $86,520 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 $20,353/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay N/A/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $25,346 in federal loans, which works out to about $269 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $43,185 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to N/A, which we can't fully judge without more data.
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 | $20,353 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | N/A |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $20,636 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $23,900 |
| $110,001+ | N/A |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 bracket pays $20,353 per year at Criswell College. Scorecard does not report income data for the 30001-48000 and 110001-plus brackets. At $20,353 annually against $43,185 10-year earnings, the financial return is very low. Low-income students pursuing ministry training here are making a vocational commitment, not a financial investment. Access to the Dallas Seminary community and Baptist church employment networks may provide non-Scorecard value not reflected in earnings data.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $20,636 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $23,900. Scorecard does not report data for other middle-income brackets. At $20,000-$24,000 per year, Criswell's cost is moderate, but against 10-year earnings of $43,185, the payback period of 27.7 years reflects the reality of ministry compensation structures, which are often subsidized by housing allowances and non-cash benefits not captured in Scorecard earnings data.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Scorecard does not report the 110001-plus income bracket for Criswell College. Given the institution's size and mission, this bracket likely represents a very small fraction of enrollment. High-income families sending students to Criswell are doing so for denominational and vocational reasons, not financial returns.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | N/A | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | N/A | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | N/A | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | N/A | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Criswell College’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2012-2023).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 100.0% |
| Enrollment | 132 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 42.4% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,560 |
Criswell College operates open enrollment (100% admission rate). No test score data is available through Scorecard. The 50% completion rate is the most important institutional risk metric - half of enrolled students do not finish. For a 132-student institution, small cohort volatility makes year-to-year data less reliable. Prospective students should request program-specific completion rates and post-graduation ministry placement data directly from the institution.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Criswell's peers include Abilene Christian University, Arlington Baptist University, Manhattan Christian College, Machzikei Hadath Rabbinical College, and Universidad Pentecostal Mizpa. These are all small religious institutions with ministry-focused missions. None produce strong earnings-based ROI. Criswell's distinguishing feature is its direct relationship with First Baptist Dallas and its position in conservative Southern Baptist theological education. Students choosing between Criswell and Dallas Theological Seminary (graduate-level) or Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary should evaluate program depth, denominational alignment, and post-graduation placement networks.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Criswell College (this school) | 31 | $21,630 | $43,185 |
| Abilene Christian University | 51 | $26,182 | $55,736 |
| Manhattan Christian College | 29 | $24,213 | $48,860 |
| Machzikei Hadath Rabbinical College | 27 | $16,515 | $41,527 |
| Universidad Pentecostal Mizpa | 27 | $6,440 | $21,410 |
| Arlington Baptist University | 14 | $24,906 | $44,644 |
Who Thrives Here
Criswell College admits 100% of applicants. SAT and ACT ranges are not reported by Scorecard. Enrollment is 132 students. Pell grant rate of 42.4% indicates significant financial need. The institution's student body is drawn from Baptist church networks and is committed to ministry vocations. At 132 students, the campus community is very small and the academic environment is intensive in biblical and theological disciplines. Students who are not committed to Baptist ministry as a vocation have very limited alignment with the institutional program.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
We'll be straight with you: the numbers at Criswell College are a real concern. With a net cost of $21,630 per year and the typical graduate earning only $43,185 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 27.7 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost - go in with your eyes open.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, its 50.0% graduation rate, a long payback period.
Median debt of $25,346 against $43,185 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.