Montreat College
Montreat, North Carolina · Private Nonprofit · 69.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 24/100 · Poor Value
Montreat College, a Christian-affiliated college in Montreat, North Carolina, posts a 24/100 ROI score in our Poor Value tier. Sticker tuition of $36,450 is reduced to a $27,061 net price by institutional aid, with four-year cost reaching $108,244. Median earnings of $37,200 six years out climb only modestly to $45,151 by year ten, producing a 9.4% earnings premium over high-school baseline. Median debt of $25,813 yields a 0.69 debt-to-earnings ratio. The 24.5-year paybackPeriod is steep — graduates need more than two decades to recoup costs. Repayment rates are mediocre: 62.8% three-year and 64.3% seven-year suggest a meaningful share of borrowers struggle. Completion rate of 50.3% is below average. With 762 students and a 39.1% Pell rate, Montreat is small, faith-focused, and serves a primarily working-to-middle-class southeast US population. The school's identity is closely tied to its PCA Presbyterian heritage and its scenic Black Mountain location near Asheville. Strong outcomes for the small business administration cohort; psychology graduates lag. Like many small Christian liberal-arts colleges, Montreat's value proposition rests heavily on the religious-formation experience rather than measurable financial return.
The data raises concerns about Montreat College
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score24/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Payback period24.5 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Montreat College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $36,450/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $36,450/yr |
| Average net price | $27,061/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $108,244 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $45,151 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $37,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,813 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $274 |
| Estimated payback period | 24.5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 50.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 762 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Montreat College is $36,450/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $27,061/year, or roughly $108,244 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $23,261/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $30,607/year.
The median graduate leaves with $25,813 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $274 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $45,151 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.69 - 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 | $23,261 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $24,904 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $25,075 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $25,700 |
| $110,001+ | $30,607 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $23,261 net — high relative to income. Across four years that's $93,044 against $37,200 graduate earnings. Pell, NC Need-Based Grant, and Montreat institutional aid help, but the gap remains substantial. The 62.8% three-year repayment rate suggests low-income borrowers have meaningful struggles servicing debt.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $30,001–$48,000 bracket pays $24,904, $48,001–$75,000 pays $25,075, and $75,001–$110,000 pays $25,700 — a remarkably flat progression with very little income-based differentiation in the middle bands. Middle-income families pay $99,000-$103,000 over four years against $37,200 early-career earnings — difficult math.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $30,607 — about $122,428 across four years, well above the published $108,244 total cost figure. High-income full-pay families are paying close to or above sticker. The financial math is genuinely indefensible at full price; full-pay families choosing Montreat are doing so for the PCA Presbyterian environment and faith-formation experience, not ROI.
Earnings by Major
Top 3 most popular majors at Montreat College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $67,034 | B |
| Psychology, Other | $39,845 | - |
| Communication and Media Studies | $41,209 | - |
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, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is Montreat's strongest financial program: 27 graduates with four-year earnings of $67,034. Median debt of $24,168 yields a 0.36 debt-to-earnings ratio (B grade) — the best ROI grade in Montreat's small program data. Strong placement into Asheville-area and broader southeast business roles. For students set on a faith-integrated business education at this price point, the program is one of Montreat's defensible value plays.
Psychology, Other
Psychology graduates 27 students — Montreat's largest cohort — with first-year earnings of $29,234 climbing to $39,845 by year four. Debt and ratio data are unreported, but graduates likely face Montreat's typical ~$26,000 borrowing pattern. The four-year earnings of ~$40,000 against that debt suggest a difficult ratio. Many psychology graduates from Christian colleges pursue counseling or ministry-counseling graduate work, which improves outcomes but adds debt.
Communication and Media Studies
Communication graduates 5 students — small cohort. Four-year earnings of $41,209 are modest. Debt and ratio figures are unreported. Small Christian-college communication programs typically feed into church-media, nonprofit communications, and small-market journalism roles; outcomes vary widely with placement quality and individual networks.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 53.8% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 62.8% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 60.2% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 64.3% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 69.2% |
| Enrollment | 762 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 39.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,390 |
Montreat admits 69.2% of applicants — moderately selective. SAT and ACT mid-ranges are not reported in current Scorecard data, common for small Christian colleges that emphasize holistic and faith-aligned admission. The 50.3% completion rate suggests admit standards are loosely matched to retention; small Christian colleges often see attrition from students who realize the religious-formation environment isn't a fit. Visit campus and meet with current students before committing.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Among Montreat's listed peers — Barton College, Belmont Abbey College, Be-er Yaakov Talmudic Seminary, Drury University CCPS, and Johnson University — Belmont Abbey (NC, Catholic) is the closest direct peer with similar tier outcomes but somewhat better completion. Barton (NC, UMC-affiliated) is another close NC private peer. Be-er Yaakov is a Yeshiva and not a meaningful comparison. Johnson University (TN) is a closer mission-peer with comparable outcomes. Montreat sits in the lower-middle of this peer set, with the small business program offering its strongest differentiator.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montreat College (this school) | 24 | $27,061 | $45,151 |
| Johnson University | 25 | $22,063 | $40,596 |
| Be'er Yaakov Talmudic Seminary | 25 | $4,543 | $17,360 |
| Barton College | 24 | $23,626 | $47,913 |
| Belmont Abbey College | 24 | $24,639 | $47,937 |
| Drury University-College of Continuing Professional Studies | 24 | $10,566 | $40,694 |
Who Thrives Here
Montreat fits Christian students drawn to its PCA Presbyterian identity, scenic Asheville-area location, and small-college residential community. With 762 students and a 39.1% Pell rate, the campus is small, working-to-middle-class, and faith-oriented. Strong outcomes for the small business administration cohort; weaker for psychology and communication. Students who fit are typically committed to the school's faith-integration mission and have a clear major target. Students seeking secular educational experiences or maximum ROI should look elsewhere — Montreat's value is in the religious-formation environment.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Montreat College. With a net cost of $27,061 per year and median graduate earnings of only $45,151 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 24.5 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 50.3% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $25,813 against $45,151 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.