Jewish Theological Seminary of America
New York, New York · Private Nonprofit · 48.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 75/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
The Jewish Theological Seminary of America (JTS) scores 75 (Strong Value) on the CampusROI scale, a notable result for an institution with $67,357 sticker tuition and a highly specialized religious mission. The score is driven by a 5.4-year payback period, a 90.3% completion rate, and $92,751 median 10-year earnings. Six-year earnings data is not available in Scorecard. JTS is an extremely small school - 172 undergraduates - affiliated with Conservative Judaism and located in Manhattan. The sole program with reportable Scorecard data is Religion/Religious Studies (36 graduates), which shows $56,236 year-one earnings, $74,060 at year four, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.298 (B+ grade). Debt and repayment data at the institution level are largely imputed or missing, limiting full analysis. The completion rate is 90.3%. JTS offers a distinctive combination of rigorous Judaic studies with conventional liberal arts, and many students pursue graduate or professional study after graduation, which shapes the earnings trajectory in ways the Scorecard does not fully capture.
The median graduate earns $92,751 ten years after entry - well above the roughly $53,600 median across the schools we score.
Jewish Theological Seminary of America
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $67,357/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $67,357/yr |
| Average net price | $43,195/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $172,780 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $92,751 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | N/A |
| Median debt at graduation | N/A |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | N/A |
| Estimated payback period | 5.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 90.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 172 |
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: $67,357/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $43,195/year, or roughly $172,780 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 N/A/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $51,570/year.
The Department of Education does not report a median debt figure for this school, usually because too few students borrow federal loans for the figure to be published. Our ROI score gives this measure a neutral middle value rather than treating it as zero debt.
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 | N/A |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | N/A |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | N/A |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $26,445 |
| $110,001+ | $51,570 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 75001-110000 bracket pays $26,445 per year - a meaningful discount off $67,357 sticker tuition, suggesting active financial aid. Given the institution's 4.1% Pell grant rate, very few students come from low-income families, and the aid structure may not be calibrated for them.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket has no reported net price data. The 75001-110000 bracket pays $26,445. Middle-income families need to model the aid package carefully given the missing data.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $51,570 per year at JTS - roughly $206,280 over four years. Against $92,751 median 10-year earnings, the ROI case requires a long time horizon or graduate/professional school multiplier. Full-pay students at JTS are making a values-based choice as much as a financial one; the 5.4-year payback period suggests the investment is defensible for students who complete.
Earnings by Major
Top 1 most popular majors at Jewish Theological Seminary of America with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Religion/Religious Studies | $74,060 | B+ |
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.
Religion/Religious Studies
Religion/Religious Studies is the only program with reportable Scorecard data at JTS, covering 36 graduates. Year-one median earnings are $56,236, rising to $74,060 at year four - a strong trajectory for a humanities field. Debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.298 (B+ grade) with median debt of $16,750 is unusually clean. The earnings figures likely reflect graduates who enter religious leadership, education, nonprofits, or pursue graduate study that leads to higher-paying roles. The B+ ROI grade for a religious studies program at a specialized seminary is a signal that JTS graduates find economically stable pathways despite the field's general reputation for low near-term earnings.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | N/A | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | N/A | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | N/A | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | N/A | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Jewish Theological Seminary of America’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
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 | 48.6% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 720-790 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 720-790 |
| Enrollment | 172 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 4.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $12,696 |
At 48.6%, JTS admits roughly half of applicants. The small enrollment of 172 means each cohort is very small; the admissions process is likely to weigh religious background, commitment to Jewish studies, and academic preparation together. ACT data is not reported in Scorecard.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
JTS's completion rate is 90.3%, and its primary program carries a B+ ROI grade.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jewish Theological Seminary of America (this school) | 75 | $43,195 | $92,751 |
| Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | 94 | $29,882 | $131,426 |
| Adelphi University | 75 | $30,783 | $75,482 |
| Yeshiva Toras Chaim | 69 | $5,356 | $62,526 |
| Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science | 67 | $35,558 | $83,438 |
| Aultman College of Nursing and Health Sciences | 66 | $24,204 | $63,582 |
Who Thrives Here
JTS enrolls 172 undergraduates and admits 48.6% of applicants - selective but not hypercompetitive. SAT mid-ranges are 720-790 Math and 720-790 Reading, indicating a highly academically prepared cohort. Pell grant rate of 4.1% is very low, reflecting a predominantly non-low-income student body. JTS is a fit for students with a serious commitment to Jewish learning and community who also want a rigorous undergraduate liberal arts education.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, Jewish Theological Seminary of America pays off. You'd pay about $43,195 a year after aid ($172,780 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $92,751 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 5.4 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: its 90.3% graduation rate.
Jewish Theological Seminary of America: Common Questions
Is Jewish Theological Seminary of America worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Jewish Theological Seminary of America pays off. It scores 75/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $43,195 a year after aid ($172,780 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $92,751 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 5.4 years to earn back.
How much does Jewish Theological Seminary of America 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 $43,195 a year, or roughly $172,780 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 Jewish Theological Seminary of America graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $92,751 ten years after enrolling, roughly $50,951 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 Jewish Theological Seminary of America?
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 5.4 years for Jewish Theological Seminary of America. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
What is the graduation rate at Jewish Theological Seminary of America?
The six-year graduation rate is 90.3%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (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.