Ner Israel Rabbinical College
Baltimore, Maryland · Private Nonprofit · 65.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 66/100 · Fair Value
Ner Israel Rabbinical College scores 66 (Fair Value) on the CampusROI scale, though the data here requires careful interpretation. The institution scores 0.80 on data completeness -- several key fields are imputed, including debt-to-earnings and repayment rate. The 6.2-year payback period and 92nd-percentile earnings premium subscore are the strongest signals. Median 6-year earnings data is not reported; median 10-year earnings are $66,330 -- a strong figure for a low-cost institution. Tuition is $10,600 and net price is $13,572, making this one of the more affordable private institutions in the database. The 23.5% completion rate is very low, but the institutional context matters: Ner Israel is a yeshiva -- a Jewish rabbinical seminary -- that trains students in full-time Torah study, many of whom continue into advanced rabbinical study or community roles without completing a standard bachelor's degree credential. The single tracked program is Religion/Religious Studies (48 graduates, $73,567 four-year). The payback period and earnings premium reflect the 10-year earnings of graduates who do complete credentials and enter religious, educational, and communal professional roles. This institution serves a specific religious community with career pathways that differ substantially from conventional higher education markets.
The data raises concerns about Ner Israel Rabbinical College
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- 6-year graduation rate23.5% - Well below the 60% national average. Non-completion is the fastest route to negative ROI.
Ner Israel Rabbinical College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $10,600/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $10,600/yr |
| Average net price | $13,572/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $54,288 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $66,330 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | N/A |
| Median debt at graduation | N/A |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $0 |
| Estimated payback period | 6.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 23.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 280 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Ner Israel Rabbinical College is $10,600/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $13,572/year, or roughly $54,288 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of N/A/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $20,150/year.
The median graduate leaves with N/A in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $0 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $66,330 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is N/A - (insufficient data to assess).
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 | $12,626 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $13,018 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $10,550 |
| $110,001+ | $20,150 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The lowest income bracket ($0-30,000) shows no net price data in the Scorecard. The 30001-48000 bracket pays $12,626 per year and the 48001-75000 bracket pays $13,018 -- both below the $13,572 average net price, suggesting moderate need-based aid. At these costs, the institution is genuinely affordable for middle-income Orthodox Jewish families. The 10-year earnings of $66,330 represent a reasonable long-run outcome for students pursuing religious professional careers.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families pay $13,018 (48001-75000) and $10,550 (75001-110000) per year -- the upper-middle bracket is actually lower than the lower-middle bracket, suggesting the aid formula has an unusual step structure here. Total 4-year costs between $42,000 and $52,000 are low for a private institution. For families in the Orthodox community who are committed to this path, the cost is not a primary enrollment barrier.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $20,150 per year -- the highest net price bracket at approximately $80,600 over four years. This is still lower than most private college net prices. For higher-income Orthodox families, the cost is manageable within the context of a religious educational commitment. The 10-year earnings of $66,330 represent a reasonable return for professional careers in Jewish communal life, which are the primary employment paths for this institution's graduates.
Earnings by Major
Top 1 most popular majors at Ner Israel Rabbinical College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Religion/Religious Studies | $73,567 | - |
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
48 graduates, $73,567 four-year earnings, with no year-one or debt data reported. The $73,567 four-year figure -- likely capturing graduates in their late 20s or early 30s who have completed rabbinical training and entered communal or educational roles -- is higher than the national median for religion graduates from conventional institutions. This reflects the specific career pathways of yeshiva graduates: synagogue rabbis, Jewish day school educators, Jewish communal organization leaders, and religious organizational administrators earn in the $60,000-$100,000 range in many metropolitan communities.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | N/A | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | N/A | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | N/A | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | N/A | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 65.7% |
| Enrollment | 280 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 16.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,711 |
Ner Israel's 65.7% admission rate reflects a meaningful but not highly competitive screening process. The institution selects students for Jewish learning commitment and aptitude rather than standard academic metrics. No SAT or ACT data is reported. The 23.5% completion rate, in context, reflects students who leave the yeshiva for other Torah institutions, marriage, or community roles rather than students who fail out. Prospective students are almost entirely from the Orthodox Jewish community and are making a religious formation choice, not a conventional higher education enrollment decision.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Ner Israel's Scorecard peers are not meaningfully comparable -- the algorithm groups it with Capitol Technology, Washington Adventist, Logan, and Aultman College of Nursing, which are dissimilar institutions by mission and student population. The most relevant peer institutions are other Orthodox yeshivot: Yeshiva University, Beth Medrash Govoha (Lakewood), and Torah Vodaath. Among that group, Ner Israel is a mid-tier institution by size, known for its Baltimore location and academic-religious balance. The Scorecard ROI framework does not map cleanly onto yeshiva education, and consumers should weight the institutional fit and religious formation dimensions more heavily than the financial metrics here.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ner Israel Rabbinical College (this school) | 66 | $13,572 | $66,330 |
| Capitol Technology University | 79 | $22,102 | $85,035 |
| Aultman College of Nursing and Health Sciences | 66 | $24,204 | $63,582 |
| Southern California Institute of Architecture | 65 | $43,923 | $71,909 |
| Washington Adventist University | 55 | $18,526 | $64,249 |
| Logan University | 53 | $20,218 | $55,838 |
Who Thrives Here
Ner Israel admits 65.7% of applicants. Enrollment is 280 -- a very small, specialized religious institution in Baltimore. The 16.1% Pell rate indicates that most students are not from lower-income households, which is consistent with the Orthodox Jewish community served. No test score data is reported. The institution is designed for students committed to intensive Jewish learning within a Torah-centered environment. Students who enroll are not pursuing conventional undergraduate degrees in the traditional sense; they are entering a years-long program of religious study. Career outcomes primarily reflect rabbinic, educational, and communal leadership roles.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Ner Israel Rabbinical College offers fair financial value, though the ROI depends heavily on individual circumstances. The net cost of $13,572 per year leads to $54,288 over four years, while graduates earn a median of $66,330 a decade out. The payback period of 6.2 years is about average - not bad, but not a standout either.
Key strengths include strong earnings premium over high school graduates. However, the data also shows a 23.5% graduation rate.
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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.