Ecclesia College
Springdale, Arkansas · Private Nonprofit · 73.8% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 26/100 · Poor Value
Ecclesia College in Springdale, Arkansas is a tiny faith-based work college (enrollment 108) that scores 26 in the Poor Value tier. The data is sparse -- six-year median earnings, debt-to-earnings ratio, and early repayment rates are all unreported -- which by itself reflects the school's small size and limited Scorecard tracking. What's reported is sobering: tuition lists at $16,850 with a $22,075 net price (above tuition because of room/board fees), $88,300 over four years, and only $40,650 in median earnings ten years out. The 40.4-year payback period is one of the longest in our dataset and effectively means typical earnings never recoup the cost during a normal career. Completion is just 40% -- six in ten students don't earn the degree. The 5-year repayment rate of 46% means more than half of borrowers had not paid down any principal five years out. The bright spot: median debt is unusually low at $13,019, meaning families pay much of the cost out of pocket rather than borrowing. Ecclesia is a Pentecostal/charismatic Christian work college with a heavy ministry focus -- students who fit this very specific calling may extract value, but the financial data is dire.
The data raises concerns about Ecclesia College
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score26/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Payback period40.4 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Ecclesia College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $16,850/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $16,850/yr |
| Average net price | $22,075/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $88,300 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $40,650 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | N/A |
| Median debt at graduation | $13,019 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $138 |
| Estimated payback period | 40.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 40.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 108 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Ecclesia College is $16,850/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $22,075/year, or roughly $88,300 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $20,801/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $26,071/year.
The median graduate leaves with $13,019 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $138 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $40,650 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is N/A - (insufficient data to assess).
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 | $20,801 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $20,663 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $20,393 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $27,248 |
| $110,001+ | $26,071 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $20,801 net per year -- a steep $83K over four years for households with little discretionary income. Despite Pell stacking, the actual out-of-pocket is significant. Combined with the 40% completion rate, the modal outcome for low-income students is borrowed money and no credential. Low-income Arkansas students should compare hard against University of Arkansas system schools or community college pathways.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Brackets are mostly flat with one inversion: $30,001-$48,000 pays $20,663, $48,001-$75,000 pays $20,393 (slightly less than the lower bracket), then $75,001-$110,000 jumps to $27,248. Then a small inversion: $110,001+ pays $26,071, less than the $75-110K bracket. These small inversions and the generally compressed bracket structure suggest small-sample noise. Middle-income families face $80K+ over four years for an unproven financial outcome.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,001+ pay $26,071, slightly less than the $75-110K bracket. At $104K over four years for a credential where median earnings ten years out is just $40,650, the math is genuinely poor on financial terms. High-income families considering Ecclesia are explicitly choosing the Pentecostal mission community, not financial value -- which is a defensible choice but should be made with eyes open.
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 | 46.0% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 53.8% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 73.8% |
| Enrollment | 108 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 48.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $1,331 |
Ecclesia admits 73.8% of applicants. SAT and ACT data are not reported, consistent with the school's de-emphasis on standardized testing in favor of a Christian-character admissions screen. The 40% completion rate is among the lowest in our dataset and signals significant retention challenges -- students enter a residential mission community with high expectations and a meaningful share don't make it through. Prospective students should ask hard questions about the day-to-day experience that drives the high attrition.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Ecclesia's peer set reflects its niche: Arkansas Baptist College is a small Arkansas HBCU with similar struggles, Lyon College is a stronger small Arkansas private with materially better outcomes, Saint Joseph Seminary College serves a Catholic vocational pathway, and the two Puerto Rico-based schools (Polytechnic University Orlando and Universidad Pentecostal Mizpa) are religious institutions with very specific mission alignment. Within this peer cohort, Ecclesia performs in line with other very small mission-focused colleges -- which is to say, with weak measurable financial outcomes that the schools themselves would say miss the point of their mission.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ecclesia College (this school) | 26 | $22,075 | $40,650 |
| Lyon College | 29 | $19,616 | $44,232 |
| Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico-Orlando | 28 | $16,577 | $47,540 |
| Universidad Pentecostal Mizpa | 27 | $6,440 | $21,410 |
| Saint Joseph Seminary College | 25 | $45,460 | $38,366 |
| Arkansas Baptist College | 4 | $10,627 | $28,418 |
Who Thrives Here
Ecclesia fits Pentecostal/charismatic Christian students specifically called to ministry, missions work, or Christian leadership roles where measurable financial ROI is not the primary goal. Enrollment of 108 makes this one of the smallest four-year colleges in our dataset, with a 48.6% Pell rate signaling a heavily working-class student body. The work-college model means students perform institutional labor in lieu of part of tuition, which keeps median debt very low. Students who don't fit this very narrow ministry-formation profile should look elsewhere -- the data does not support attendance for general academic or career purposes.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Ecclesia College. With a net cost of $22,075 per year and median graduate earnings of only $40,650 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 40.4 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 40.0% graduation rate and a long payback period.
Median debt of $13,019 against $40,650 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.