Moody Bible Institute
Chicago, Illinois · Private Nonprofit · 82.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 36/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Moody Bible Institute scores 36 (Below Benchmark) on the CampusROI scale, with a 22-year payback period, $29,900 average 6-year earnings, and a 62.3% completion rate. Tuition is $15,786 but net price of $22,221 is high relative to earnings outcomes. The repayment rate data is not reported by the Scorecard (imputed at 50), meaning we cannot assess how borrowers are actually managing debt. Median debt of $18,149 against $29,900 annual earnings yields a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.607. This is a specialized Christian ministry and theological institution; Moody trains pastors, missionaries, Bible teachers, and Christian media communicators. The program mix is almost entirely ministry-focused: Theological and Ministerial Studies (126 graduates) earns $33,488 year one and $38,907 at year four; Bible/Biblical Studies (45 graduates) earns $35,114 year one. The financially best-performing program is Communication and Media Studies ($36,963 year one, B+ grade) but no graduate count is reported. Ministry careers - pastoral, missionary, nonprofit - are not high earners by Scorecard measures, and students choosing this institution understand that. The low ROI score reflects economic outcomes, not educational mission alignment for students who intend careers in ministry.
How Moody Bible Institute 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 Score36/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- Payback period22 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Moody Bible Institute
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $15,786/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $15,786/yr |
| Average net price | $22,221/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $88,884 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $45,399 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $29,900 |
| Median debt at graduation | $18,149 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $192 |
| Estimated payback period | 22 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 62.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,510 |
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: $15,786/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 $22,221/year, or roughly $88,884 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 $21,293/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $22,897/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $18,149, which works out to about $192 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($29,900) and comes to 0.61, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than 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 | $21,293 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $23,057 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $20,599 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $25,676 |
| $110,001+ | $22,897 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $21,293 per year - essentially the same as the average net price of $22,221. There is little evidence of preferential aid for the lowest-income students relative to the overall net price. Against $29,900 average 6-year earnings, this is a financially difficult equation. Low-income students considering Moody for ministry training should also investigate scholarship and grant availability beyond what the Scorecard net price reflects.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $20,599 (slightly lower than the lowest bracket) and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $25,676 - the highest net price in the income schedule, which is an unusual pattern. Middle-income families in the upper bracket face higher costs than lower-income brackets at this institution. The earnings outcomes for ministry programs do not vary by income level, making the higher cost for this bracket a worse value proposition.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The 110001-plus bracket pays $22,897 per year. Families in this bracket choosing Moody for a dependent are likely doing so for religious formation and ministry training rather than financial return. The Scorecard repayment rate is imputed (not reported), meaning we cannot assess real-world borrower outcomes. Full-pay families face a 22-year payback period based on Scorecard earnings data - an honest but not disqualifying figure for families prioritizing non-financial outcomes.
Earnings by Major
Top 7 most popular majors at Moody Bible Institute with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Theological and Ministerial Studies | $38,907 | B |
| Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology | $40,561 | C |
| Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries | $44,522 | B+ |
| Bible/Biblical Studies | $50,342 | B |
| Religious Education | $36,770 | C+ |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | $67,178 | - |
| Communication and Media Studies | $48,158 | 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.
Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries
Pastoral Counseling (63 graduates) earns $35,426 year one and $44,522 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.339 (B+ grade) and median debt of $12,000. This is one of the better ROI profiles within Moody's program set, partly because median debt is low. Graduates enter pastoral counseling, hospital chaplaincy, and church leadership roles where compensation is constrained but the debt load is manageable.
Theological and Ministerial Studies
Theological and Ministerial Studies is the largest program (126 graduates) and earns $33,488 year one and $38,907 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.418 (B grade) and median debt of $14,000. This is a core pastoral training program; graduates enter church ministry, para-church organizations, and denominational service. Earnings are modest and capped by ministerial compensation norms, but debt is relatively low, keeping the ratio manageable.
Bible/Biblical Studies
Bible/Biblical Studies (45 graduates) earns $35,114 year one and $50,342 at year four, with a B grade (debt-to-earnings 0.373) and median debt of $13,097. Debt is low and the ratio is manageable relative to the earnings trajectory.
Religious Education
Religious Education (28 graduates) earns $30,671 year one and $36,770 at year four, with a C+ grade (debt-to-earnings 0.456) and median debt of $14,000. These are the weakest earnings in Moody's program set for programs with complete data. Religious education roles in church and para-church organizations tend to pay modestly. Students in this program should have a clear vocational calling and realistic income expectations.
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 Moody Bible Institute’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 | 82.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,510 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 36.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,213 |
At an 82.7% admission rate, Moody Bible Institute is effectively open-access for applicants who meet its religious and doctrinal requirements. Scorecard does not report test score data. Admission is shaped more by alignment with Moody's faith statement and ministry commitment than by academic selectivity.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moody Bible Institute (this school) | 36 | $22,221 | $45,399 |
| Augustana College | 67 | $22,736 | $62,971 |
| Muskingum University | 39 | $19,532 | $48,440 |
| Otis College of Art and Design | 36 | $51,248 | $58,152 |
| Lasell University | 35 | $27,511 | $49,705 |
| School of the Art Institute of Chicago | 21 | $49,790 | $40,151 |
Who Thrives Here
Moody Bible Institute admits 82.7% of applicants. Scorecard does not report test score ranges. Enrollment of 1,510 is small. The institution is purpose-built for students pursuing Christian ministry, theological education, and related vocational callings. The Pell grant rate of 36.3% indicates meaningful low-income enrollment. Moody is not the right fit for students who are undecided about ministry as a career or who expect financial returns typical of secular professional education. Students who attend for religious formation and ministry training are making a values-aligned choice that Scorecard metrics do not capture.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, Moody Bible Institute scores 36/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $22,221 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $45,399 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 22 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, a long payback period.
Median debt of $18,149 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $29,900 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.61, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Moody Bible Institute: Common Questions
Is Moody Bible Institute worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. Moody Bible Institute scores 36/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $22,221 a year after aid against $45,399 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 22 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does Moody Bible Institute 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 $22,221 a year, or roughly $88,884 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 Moody Bible Institute graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $45,399 ten years after enrolling, roughly $3,599 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 Moody Bible Institute?
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 22 years for Moody Bible Institute. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Moody Bible Institute graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $18,149, against average earnings of $29,900 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.61. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Moody Bible Institute?
The six-year graduation rate is 62.3%. 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.