Pacific Islands University
Mangilao, Guam · Private Nonprofit · 100.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 28/100 · Poor Value
Pacific Islands University earns an ROI score of 28 out of 100, landing in the Poor Value tier, with the score driven entirely by Guam's depressed labor market rather than any specific failing of the institution. The school is genuinely inexpensive: in-state tuition is $7,203 ($7,516 out-of-state) and the net price is $9,334, producing a $37,336 four-year all-in cost that is among the lowest in our database. Median federal debt and detailed debt metrics are not reported (dataCompleteness 0.80). Graduates earn just $20,902 ten years out (six-year earnings unreported), and the Scorecard reports a 999-year payback meaning the earnings premium over a typical Guam high school graduate never recoups even this modest cost. The 66.7% completion rate is solid for the institution's small size. With only 61 enrolled students and a 100% Pell rate, this is an extremely small Bible college serving an entirely low-income population. The financial decision is constrained more by Guam's labor market and the school's narrow ministry-focused mission than by anything the school controls.
The data raises concerns about Pacific Islands University
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score28/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Payback period>50 years - Graduates earn at or near the level of high school completers — the cost may not recoup within a working career.
Pacific Islands University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $7,203/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $7,516/yr |
| Average net price | $9,334/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $37,336 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $20,902 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | N/A |
| Median debt at graduation | N/A |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $0 |
| Estimated payback period | >50 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 66.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 61 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Pacific Islands University is $7,203/year ($7,516/year out-of-state). But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $9,334/year, or roughly $37,336 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $9,334/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay N/A/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 $20,902 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 | $9,334 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | N/A |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | N/A |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | N/A |
| $110,001+ | N/A |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $9,334. This is the only income bracket reported, consistent with the school's 100% Pell rate enrollment. Combined with Pell Grant funding, low-income families face essentially negligible out-of-pocket cost beyond living expenses. Over four years, total cost stays under $40,000. Workable on the cost side; the labor market is the binding constraint.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Net price data for middle-income families is not reported because effectively no middle-income families attend this school. The school's mission and enrollment profile mean this income bracket is not relevant to its student body.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Net price data for high-income families is not reported for the same reason. The school does not serve high-income households, and any high-income family considering Pacific Islands University would presumably attend for religious-vocational reasons rather than financial return.
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 | 100.0% |
| Enrollment | 61 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 100.0% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $2,958 |
Pacific Islands University admits 100% of applicants, an open-admission school. SAT and ACT mid-ranges are not reported, consistent with a tiny Bible college that does not use standardized tests for admissions. The 66.7% completion rate is solid for the institution type, indicating effective community structure given the small enrollment, but the sample size (61 students total) means individual cohort outcomes can swing dramatically year-to-year.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Pacific Islands University's peer set is entirely other tiny specialized religious institutions. Carolina Christian College and American Baptist College are similar small Bible colleges in the mainland US. Allegheny Wesleyan College is a similar Wesleyan-tradition Bible institution. Yeshivah Gedolah Rabbinical College and Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico-Orlando are even more specialized. None of these are useful financial comparisons in any traditional sense; ROI for tiny religious institutions reflects the ministry-track economy rather than typical labor market dynamics.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific Islands University (this school) | 28 | $9,334 | $20,902 |
| American Baptist College | 32 | $9,216 | $41,216 |
| Allegheny Wesleyan College | 29 | $5,355 | $37,453 |
| Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico-Orlando | 28 | $16,577 | $47,540 |
| Carolina Christian College | 23 | $22,366 | $40,672 |
| Yeshivah Gedolah Rabbinical College | 18 | $12,587 | $30,667 |
Who Thrives Here
Pacific Islands University enrolls just 61 students with a 100% Pell rate, marking it as an extremely small low-income institution serving primarily Pacific-region students preparing for Christian ministry across Micronesia and Guam. The fit profile is essentially one type of student: someone called to vocational ministry within the Pacific church network, with limited financial resources and a willingness to attend an institution where bachelor's-level earnings will not justify the credential on conventional terms. The financial decision is essentially religious-vocational rather than economic.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Pacific Islands University. With a net cost of $9,334 per year and median graduate earnings of only $20,902 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds >50 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a long payback period.
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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.