La Sierra University
Riverside, California · Private Nonprofit · 91.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 41/100 · Poor Value
La Sierra University scores 41 (Poor Value) — a weak result for a small Seventh-day Adventist university in Riverside, California, where the core problem is a net price of $45,566 that exceeds even the sticker tuition ($37,710) by nearly $8,000. This unusual net price likely reflects fees and room/board in the Scorecard calculation. Against $43,600 median six-year earnings and a 12-year payback, the financial case is difficult for most programs. The repayment rate of 0.612 at five years means nearly 40% of former students are not making meaningful progress on their loans. The 59.7% completion rate is below average for a private institution. Only one program (Accounting) achieves a B-grade ROI; most others carry C, D, or the worst-case scenario of 0.99 debt-to-earnings ratios.
The data raises concerns about La Sierra University
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score41/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
La Sierra University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $37,710/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $37,710/yr |
| Average net price | $45,566/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $182,264 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $61,824 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $43,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 12 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 59.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,116 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at La Sierra University is $37,710/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $45,566/year, or roughly $182,264 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $44,988/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $45,999/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 $61,824 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.62 - 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 | $44,988 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $44,593 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $45,518 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $47,266 |
| $110,001+ | $45,999 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-$30,000 income bracket pays $44,988 per year — an astonishing net price for low-income students, approaching full cost of attendance. The 47.3% Pell rate means nearly half of students receive the maximum federal need-based grant but still face this net price. This data point indicates that La Sierra's institutional aid does not substantially reduce costs for low-income students. Low-income families should apply to California public institutions first.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $45,518 and the $75,001-$110,000 bracket pays $47,266 per year — essentially flat and near full sticker price across income brackets. This extremely flat net price schedule indicates La Sierra offers limited institutional merit aid and relies almost entirely on federal programs. Middle-income families receive very little institutional discount from the $37,710 sticker price.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000 or more pay $45,999 per year — higher than the lowest income bracket, likely due to reduced federal grant eligibility without corresponding institutional aid. The net price schedule at La Sierra is essentially the same for every income bracket, which is unusual and suggests limited endowment-funded aid. At $45,999 per year for four years ($184,000 total), the ROI case is very poor.
Earnings by Major
Top 8 most popular majors at La Sierra University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $53,902 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $56,939 | D |
| Marketing | $48,040 | C+ |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $55,711 | D |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $51,085 | D |
| Psychology | $49,265 | C |
| Social Work | $69,244 | D |
| Accounting | $59,153 | 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.
Accounting
Accounting (4 graduates) reaches $59,153 at year four with a B-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.423 and $25,000 median debt. This is La Sierra's only program achieving B-grade ROI. The program is tiny (4 graduates), limiting Scorecard confidence, but the Riverside-Inland Empire accounting market provides adequate placement. The B-grade reflects earnings that outpace debt at a defensible ratio.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice (61 graduates) is La Sierra's largest reported program: $34,885 year one, $53,902 year four, D-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.889 and $31,000 median debt. Graduates carry above-average debt against below-average starting wages. The Inland Empire public safety market provides some career entry, but the combination of high debt and modest wages makes repayment strained in early career. At $45,566 net price, this is a difficult financial choice.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business (22 graduates) earns $35,477 year one and $56,939 year four with a D-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.799 and $28,333 median debt. Starting wages of $35,477 against debt of $28,333 produce a manageable but slow repayment trajectory. The Inland Empire business market is large but wage levels reflect its distance from the Los Angeles core. Business graduates at La Sierra face intense competition from Cal State and UC graduates in the Southern California market.
Social Work
Social Work (12 graduates) earns $42,213 year one and $69,244 year four with a D-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.841 and $35,500 median debt — the highest median debt on this program list. The year-four figure is notably higher than year one, reflecting that many social work graduates continue to an MSW which drives longer-term earnings upward. But the undergraduate debt of $35,500 compounds with graduate borrowing. Students planning the full MSW path need to model total debt, not just the undergraduate figure.
Psychology
Psychology (12 graduates) reaches $49,265 at year four with a C-grade debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.624 and $30,764 median debt. Year-one data is unavailable, but the four-year figure is above average for a private college psychology program in California — likely reflecting the Southern California health services market. Still, at $45,566 net price and $30,764 debt, the financial math requires a graduate school pathway to justify.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 57.2% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 61.2% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 62.9% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 70.8% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 91.5% |
| Enrollment | 1,116 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 47.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,396 |
La Sierra admits 91.5% of applicants; no SAT or ACT data is reported. This is functionally open enrollment. The admission process screens primarily for faith community alignment and basic academic preparation. Financial need and the Adventist religious community are the primary draws — not academic selectivity.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
La Sierra's peers include Art Center College of Design, Azusa Pacific University, Geneva College, Aquinas College, and Brenau University. Azusa Pacific is the most direct comparable — another Southern California faith-based institution with similar demographics and price profiles. La Sierra's 41 score is consistent with the poor-value pattern at small, religiously affiliated California privates where tuition is high but endowments are small and earnings outcomes are modest. Geneva College and Aquinas serve similar faith-based missions in very different geographic markets.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Sierra University (this school) | 41 | $45,566 | $61,824 |
| Azusa Pacific University | 71 | $22,212 | $66,677 |
| Art Center College of Design | 56 | $48,661 | $71,958 |
| Aquinas College | 44 | $16,626 | $49,584 |
| Brenau University | 41 | $18,924 | $54,003 |
| Geneva College | 38 | $25,890 | $50,004 |
Who Thrives Here
La Sierra serves Adventist students and others drawn to the faith community in the Inland Empire, with 1,116 undergraduates and a 47.3% Pell rate indicating a primarily lower-income, first-generation student population. Students who need affordable education for Southern California careers should compare against Cal State San Bernardino, UCR, and other California public options before enrolling at La Sierra's price point. The 91.5% acceptance rate is open-access. The Adventist community infrastructure provides real social support that is not captured in financial data.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about La Sierra University. With a net cost of $45,566 per year and median graduate earnings of only $61,824 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 12 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and concerning loan repayment rates.
Median debt of $27,000 against $61,824 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.