Mid-Atlantic Christian University
Elizabeth City, North Carolina · Private Nonprofit · 62.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 10/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Mid-Atlantic Christian University (MACU) is a very small private Christian institution in Elizabeth City, NC, enrolling about 132 students. It carries an overall ROI score of 10. The metrics are severe: an earnings premium of only 4.6% above non-college workers, a payback period of 63.8 years (effectively indefinite), a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.08, and a completion rate of just 20.75%. Average six-year earnings are $24,900. Only two programs are reported: Missions/Missionary Studies and Bible/Biblical Studies. Bible Studies graduates (5 reported) earn $11,491 in year one and $26,873 at four years against $23,422 in median debt - a 2.04 debt-to-earnings ratio that is the worst single-program metric in this review. MACU's institutional mission is explicitly vocational Christian ministry training, not workforce preparation in the conventional sense. Students who enroll here are typically seeking ordination, mission service, or church leadership roles where monetary compensation is secondary to calling. Evaluating MACU through a standard ROI lens fundamentally misaligns instrument to purpose - but families bearing loan debt deserve the data.
How Mid-Atlantic Christian University scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- ROI Score10/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- Debt-to-earnings1.08 - Median debt is larger than one year of average earnings six years after entry (a ratio above 1.0).
- 6-year graduation rate20.8% - The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our score, since a degree that is not finished rarely pays back.
- Payback period>50 years - In our estimate, the earnings premium over a high school completer is small next to the cost, so the cost may not be recouped within a working career.
Mid-Atlantic Christian University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $17,280/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $17,280/yr |
| Average net price | $18,328/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $73,312 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $38,342 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $24,900 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | >50 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 20.8% |
| 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: $17,280/year, which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $18,328/year, or roughly $73,312 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 $17,512/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $20,004/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $27,000, which works out to about $286 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($24,900) and comes to 1.08, 1.0 or higher, meaning median debt is at least a full year of those earnings.
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 | $17,512 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $16,406 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $17,385 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $21,476 |
| $110,001+ | $20,004 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Low-income students (under $30,000) pay $17,512 net - nearly identical to other income brackets, reflecting minimal income-based aid differentiation. At this cost, four-year investment approaches $70,000. With average six-year earnings of $24,900, this is financially unsustainable without significant debt forgiveness, ministry employer benefits, or family support. Low-income students at MACU should consider whether the specific credentialing goals can be achieved through affiliated lower-cost programs or scholarship-funded theological colleges.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $30,001 - $48,000 band pays $16,406 net. Middle-income families co-borrowing PLUS loans face significant exposure at a school with a 63.8-year payback period. If the student is determined to pursue ministry education at MACU, maximizing subsidized federal loans (where interest doesn't accrue in school) and applying for every available institutional and denominational scholarship are essential first steps.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Households above $110,000 pay $20,004 net.
Earnings by Major
Top 2 most popular majors at Mid-Atlantic Christian University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Bible/Biblical Studies | $26,873 | F |
| Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology | $32,383 | - |
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.
Bible/Biblical Studies
Bible/Biblical Studies (5 graduates) earns $11,491 at one year and $26,873 at four years against $23,422 median debt - a 2.04 ratio, F grade. These figures reflect that ministry and church work - the primary vocations this degree targets - are typically low-wage or stipend-based, particularly in early career. Students who graduate and enter pastoral ministry may access housing allowances and ministry-specific tax benefits that somewhat offset the wage level, but the debt burden is nonetheless significant relative to expected income.
Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology
Graduate count and debt data are not reported, limiting analysis. Missiology graduates enter international missions organizations, NGOs, and church-based relief organizations. Compensation structures in these organizations vary widely and often include housing, healthcare, and support-raising components that make standard wage comparisons misleading. Students should research specific sending organizations' support models before committing to the degree-to-career path.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 60.5% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 65.0% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 43.7% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 54.5% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Mid-Atlantic Christian University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 62.2% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 440-570 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 390-640 |
| Enrollment | 132 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 37.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $5,406 |
MACU admits 62.2% of applicants. SAT mid-range is 440 - 570 (math) and 390 - 640 (reading) - wide ranges reflecting a small and diverse applicant pool. ACT data is not reported. Admission is accessible for Christian students who align with the institution's doctrinal statement. Applicants should expect to articulate their ministry calling and church community involvement in the application process.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-Atlantic Christian University (this school) | 10 | $18,328 | $38,342 |
| Barton College | 24 | $23,626 | $47,913 |
| Belmont Abbey College | 24 | $24,639 | $47,937 |
| Central Christian College of the Bible | 15 | $14,356 | $34,675 |
| Crowley's Ridge College | 12 | $16,315 | $39,533 |
| Clinton College | 8 | $11,458 | $30,180 |
Who Thrives Here
MACU is a fit for students called to Christian ministry vocations - pastoral work, mission service, or church leadership - who prioritize faith formation and theological education over labor market earnings. Students considering MACU should plan to minimize debt aggressively, pursue income-driven repayment from graduation, and investigate ministry vocation tax exemptions and PSLF eligibility for nonprofit/church employment.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, Mid-Atlantic Christian University scores 10/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $18,328 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $38,342 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at more than 50 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, its 20.8% graduation rate, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.08 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 65.0% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $27,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $24,900 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.08. That is 1.0 or higher, meaning median debt is at least a full year of those earnings, so your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Mid-Atlantic Christian University: Common Questions
Is Mid-Atlantic Christian University worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. Mid-Atlantic Christian University scores 10/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $18,328 a year after aid against $38,342 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at more than 50 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does Mid-Atlantic Christian University 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 $18,328 a year, or roughly $73,312 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 Mid-Atlantic Christian University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $38,342 ten years after enrolling, at or below the $41,800 median for high-school graduates (NCES, 2022). With little earnings gap to cover the cost, the financial return is hard to make.
How long does it take to pay off Mid-Atlantic Christian University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at more than 50 years for Mid-Atlantic Christian University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Mid-Atlantic Christian University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $27,000, against average earnings of $24,900 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.08. That is 1.0 or higher, meaning median debt is at least a full year of those earnings, so how much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Mid-Atlantic Christian University?
The six-year graduation rate is 20.8%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (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.