Dallas Christian College
Dallas, Texas · Private Nonprofit · 21.8% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 18/100 · Poor Value
Dallas Christian College earns an ROI score of 18 out of 100, among the weakest results in our database. The school's $21,730 tuition is modest for a private institution, but net price of $22,960 actually exceeds tuition, indicating limited institutional aid relative to fees and living expenses. The four-year all-in is $91,840. Graduates earn a median of $33,000 six years out and $43,503 at ten years, with $24,912 median debt and a 0.76 debt-to-earnings ratio above the federal warning line. The Scorecard reports a 27.3-year payback period, reflecting genuinely modest earnings against the cost. The hardest number is the 28.6% completion rate: more than 70% of entering students never finish, leaving them with debt and no degree. The 63.4% overall repayment rate and especially the 49.2% 5-year repayment rate signal substantial loan default exposure. This is a very small Bible college (224 students) with a narrow mission; the financial decision is genuinely difficult to defend on numbers alone.
The data raises concerns about Dallas Christian College
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score18/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- 6-year graduation rate28.6% - Well below the 60% national average. Non-completion is the fastest route to negative ROI.
- Payback period27.3 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Dallas Christian College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $21,730/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $21,730/yr |
| Average net price | $22,960/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $91,840 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $43,503 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $33,000 |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,912 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $264 |
| Estimated payback period | 27.3 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 28.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 224 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Dallas Christian College is $21,730/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $22,960/year, or roughly $91,840 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $19,302/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $25,148/year.
The median graduate leaves with $24,912 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $264 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $43,503 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.76 - 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 | $19,302 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $21,399 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $23,716 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $29,512 |
| $110,001+ | $25,148 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $19,302, and the $30,001-$48,000 band pays $21,399. Combined with Pell Grant eligibility, low-income families face roughly $77,000-$86,000 over four years. Against $43,503 ten-year earnings, the math is fundamentally difficult; community college or commuter-friendly state alternatives would deliver far better financial outcomes.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 band pays $23,716 and the $75,001-$110,000 band jumps to $29,512. Middle-income families face roughly $95,000-$118,000 in four-year cost. Earnings of $43,503 ten years out make the math untenable; the decision must be made entirely on mission alignment rather than financial return.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $25,148, which is lower than the $75,001-$110,000 bracket, a genuine inversion at the top suggesting merit aid or scholarship dollars catching some high-income families. Even at this discounted rate, the four-year cost of about $100,000 against modest earnings outcomes makes this an extremely difficult financial case to justify.
Earnings by Major
Top 1 most popular majors at Dallas Christian College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management | $65,390 | 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.
Business Administration and Management
Business Administration is the only program with reported financial data, graduating 16 students. First-year earnings of $43,531 climb to $65,390 at four years, showing reasonable wage growth, with $32,000 median debt producing a 0.74 debt-to-earnings ratio and a D ROI grade. The four-year earnings are surprisingly solid for the school's overall profile, likely reflecting graduates who leverage the credential into Dallas-area corporate or sales roles. This appears to be the strongest financial pathway available on campus.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 50.7% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 63.4% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 49.2% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 59.6% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 21.8% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 391-566 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 397-522 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 15-19 |
| Enrollment | 224 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 48.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $5,606 |
Dallas Christian College admits 21.8% of applicants, a surprisingly low rate that likely reflects a tiny applicant pool and specific religious commitment requirements rather than nationally competitive admissions. SAT mid-ranges of 391-566 in math and 397-522 in reading, plus an ACT mid-range of 15-19, place the academic profile well below national medians. The 28.6% completion rate tracks directly with this academic profile: most admitted students are not academically prepared to finish a bachelor's degree, and the institution lacks the support infrastructure to bring them through.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Dallas Christian College's peer set is mostly other small specialized religious institutions. Abilene Christian University is far larger and more selective, with substantially stronger ROI. Arlington Baptist University and Welch College are closer peers, similar Bible college institutions with comparable financial challenges. Montserrat College of Art and Universidad Teologica del Caribe are niche institutions where direct comparison is awkward. Within the Bible college category specifically, Dallas Christian is performing about at the category average, which is structurally weak.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas Christian College (this school) | 18 | $22,960 | $43,503 |
| Columbia International University | 21 | $26,036 | $38,951 |
| Davis & Elkins College | 21 | $18,273 | $43,411 |
| Kentucky Christian University | 19 | $24,038 | $42,375 |
| Trinity Bible College and Graduate School | 18 | $19,359 | $35,604 |
| Toccoa Falls College | 16 | $21,642 | $36,630 |
Who Thrives Here
Dallas Christian College enrolls just 224 students with a 48.6% Pell rate, marking it as a low-income, mission-driven institution serving primarily students preparing for Christian ministry or church leadership. The fit profile is narrow: a student committed to vocational ministry, willing to attend a very small Bible-focused institution, and either confident in a ministry career path that does not depend on traditional labor-market wages or planning to use the credential as a foundation for further education. The 28.6% completion rate signals that many students should reconsider, either by attending community college first or selecting a stronger four-year institution.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Dallas Christian College. With a net cost of $22,960 per year and median graduate earnings of only $43,503 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 27.3 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 28.6% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $24,912 against $43,503 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
New analyses, updated school profiles, and tools - when there’s something worth acting on.
Rankings & Links
Guides & Tools
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.