Rabbinical College Bobover Yeshiva Bnei Zion
Brooklyn, New York · Private Nonprofit
ROI Score: 41/100 · Poor Value
Rabbinical College Bobover Yeshiva Bnei Zion is a Brooklyn-based Hasidic religious institution offering programs that the federal Scorecard scoring system fundamentally was not designed to evaluate. The 41 ROI score and Poor Value tier reflect the gap between the school's mission (training rabbinical and religious scholars within the Bobov Hasidic community) and the Scorecard's secular earnings yardstick. Median earnings ten years after entry are $20,707, lower than six-year earnings of $22,900, generating an earnings premium of negative 39 percent against the high-school baseline. The 999-year payback flag follows from that negative premium. At the same time, completion rate is exceptional at 82.9 percent, debt-to-earnings ratio is reported as zero (meaning typical graduates carry no federal debt), and net price is just $9,136 against a $10,000 sticker. Total four-year cost is $36,544. The school produces graduates who finish, do not borrow, and pursue lifelong religious work that has nothing to do with maximizing W-2 income. Reading this score as a verdict on the institution misunderstands what it is.
The data raises concerns about Rabbinical College Bobover Yeshiva Bnei Zion
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score41/100 - 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.
Rabbinical College Bobover Yeshiva Bnei Zion
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $10,000/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $10,000/yr |
| Average net price | $9,136/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $36,544 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $20,707 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $22,900 |
| Median debt at graduation | N/A |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $0 |
| Estimated payback period | >50 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 82.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 473 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Rabbinical College Bobover Yeshiva Bnei Zion is $10,000/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $9,136/year, or roughly $36,544 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $8,131/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 $20,707 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.00 - well within manageable territory.
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 | $8,131 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $7,755 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $10,941 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $13,909 |
| $110,001+ | N/A |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $8,131 net, the lowest in the matrix. With Pell at 89.5 percent, this is the bracket that captures most students. Four-year cost lands near $32,500 and graduates typically borrow nothing. On absolute dollars, this is an affordable path; on Scorecard earnings, the math looks bleak only because the school is not training graduates for secular labor markets.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Notable inversion: the $30,001 to $48,000 bracket pays $7,755, less than the lowest-income bracket at $8,131. That is a small but real flag, likely due to small-sample variance. The $48,001 to $75,000 bracket then jumps to $10,941, a more typical pattern. Middle-income families remain well-served at total costs under $44,000 over four years.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The $75,001 to $110,000 bracket pays $13,909, and no data is reported above $110,000. The progression in the upper brackets is normal. Higher-income families participating here are doing so for religious-community reasons, not financial optimization, and the modest sticker price keeps the financial commitment contained regardless.
Earnings by Major
Top 1 most popular majors at Rabbinical College Bobover Yeshiva Bnei Zion with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Religion/Religious Studies | $23,329 | - |
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
Religion/Religious Studies is essentially the sole program, with 89 graduates per year. First-year median earnings of $10,153 climb modestly to $23,329 by year four. Debt and ROI grade are not reported, but the institution-level debt-to-earnings ratio of zero indicates most graduates do not borrow. The career path runs into rabbinical, community-religious, and Jewish-education roles where compensation is set by community structures rather than secular labor markets. Evaluating this as a typical secular religious-studies degree understates the credential's value within its specific context.
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
| Enrollment | 473 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 89.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $3,577 |
Admission rate is not reported in current Scorecard data, and the school does not publish SAT or ACT mid-ranges. Admission to a yeshiva of this character is governed by community, religious credentialing, and rabbinical recommendation rather than standardized academics. The 82.9 percent completion rate signals that students who enroll are already deeply committed and supported within the community structure, so they finish.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
The Scorecard pairs this school with Adelphi University, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Oakland City University, Central Baptist College, and Union Adventist University. These peers are mismatched: Adelphi is a comprehensive research-active private with $50K+ earnings outcomes, and Albany Pharmacy posts among the highest earnings premiums in higher ed. Central Baptist College and Union Adventist are closer cultural fits as faith-based privates, though their secular career orientation makes a direct ROI comparison still imperfect. The peer assignment here is a reminder that algorithmic pairing breaks down for specialized religious institutions.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rabbinical College Bobover Yeshiva Bnei Zion (this school) | 41 | $9,136 | $20,707 |
| Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | 94 | $29,882 | $131,426 |
| Adelphi University | 75 | $30,783 | $75,482 |
| Union Adventist University | 43 | $23,716 | $55,045 |
| Oakland City University | 41 | $15,210 | $43,283 |
| Central Baptist College | 40 | $12,287 | $46,789 |
Who Thrives Here
This school fits one specific student: a young man from the Bobov Hasidic community in Brooklyn or affiliated communities pursuing rabbinical or religious-studies training within the framework of that community. Pell rate is 89.5 percent, reflecting the largely low-income demographic. Enrollment is 473. The combination of zero typical debt, high completion, and very low net price means students graduate with no financial damage even though earnings are low; the community provides employment and support pathways outside what the Scorecard measures.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Rabbinical College Bobover Yeshiva Bnei Zion. With a net cost of $9,136 per year and median graduate earnings of only $20,707 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds >50 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Key strengths include a 82.9% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings. However, the data also shows 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.