San Diego Christian College
Santee, California · Private Nonprofit · 30.8% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 51/100 · Below Average Value
San Diego Christian College earns an ROI score of 51 in the Below Average Value tier, with a profile of contradictions. The earnings premium subscore tops out at 100 (graduates earn 372% of typical high school grad benchmarks, almost certainly a tiny-sample artifact at this 87-student campus). The reported $992 average net price and $3,968 four-year total cost are extraordinarily low and suggest the institution captures only one income bracket (0-$30,000) in net price reporting, with all other brackets null. Sticker tuition is actually $28,012, so the school's true family-paying cost is much higher than the $3,968 figure implies. The truly problematic metrics: a 19.7% completion rate (subscore 4), a 0.805 debt-to-earnings ratio (subscore 14), and a 59.6% repayment rate (subscore 18). Median 10-year earnings of $49,766 against $24,941 in median debt make completion the dominant variable, students who don't finish carry meaningful debt against weak labor market positioning.
The data raises concerns about San Diego Christian College
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- 6-year graduation rate19.7% - Well below the 60% national average. Non-completion is the fastest route to negative ROI.
San Diego Christian College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $28,012/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $28,012/yr |
| Average net price | $992/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $3,968 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $49,766 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $31,000 |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,941 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $264 |
| Estimated payback period | 9.7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 19.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 87 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at San Diego Christian College is $28,012/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $992/year, or roughly $3,968 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $992/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay N/A/year. The school provides substantial aid to low-income students, making it significantly more affordable than the sticker price suggests.
The median graduate leaves with $24,941 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $264 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $49,766 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.81 - 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 | $992 |
| $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 under $30,000 pay $992 per year, a startlingly low figure that reflects the school's heavy aid for its highest-need population. Over four years that's just $3,968 if the rate holds. This is the only income bracket with reported data, families in this band have one of the more affordable Christian college options nationally on a sticker basis, though the 19.7% completion risk is the offsetting concern.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Net price by income data is null for all middle-income brackets in current Scorecard data, likely due to small-sample suppression at the 87-student campus. Middle-income families should run the school's net price calculator directly to estimate their cost, the published institutional average is $992 but this reflects lowest-income aid rather than the typical middle-income family.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The $110,001-plus bracket reports null. With sticker tuition at $28,012, full-pay families face a meaningfully higher cost than the institutional average suggests. Without published high-income net price data, families should treat the calculator output as the operative figure for budget planning.
Earnings by Major
Top 2 most popular majors at San Diego Christian College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $59,489 | - |
| Communication and Media Studies | $56,685 | - |
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 the largest program with 17 graduates. First-year earnings of $38,213 grow to $59,489 by year four, a respectable trajectory and the strongest reported earnings on campus. Debt and ROI grade data are not reported. The earnings figure suggests business graduates outperform the institutional median of $49,766 ten-year earnings meaningfully, this is the most defensible academic path on campus from an outcomes standpoint.
Communication and Media Studies
Communication and Media Studies has 12 graduates with four-year earnings of $56,685. Debt and ROI grade data are not reported. The earnings figure is solid for the field, though as is typical nationally for communication majors, outcomes vary widely by individual portfolio strength and post-graduate networking, the credential alone is not the primary earnings driver.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 54.2% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 59.6% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 60.9% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 75.9% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 30.8% |
| Enrollment | 87 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 45.0% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,898 |
San Diego Christian admits 30.8% of applicants, an unusually selective figure for a small Christian liberal arts college, possibly driven by self-selection in the applicant pool or small-sample noise. SAT and ACT mid-50% bands are not reported in current Scorecard data. The combination of 30.8% admission rate and 19.7% completion rate suggests the school screens applicants but then loses many enrolled students before graduation, possibly to transfer or financial issues.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
The peer set includes Azusa Pacific (a much larger California Christian university with much stronger completion), Art Center College of Design (a specialty design school), Thomas More College of Liberal Arts, Baptist University of the Americas, and Hobe Sound Bible College. Among the smaller religious peers (Thomas More, Baptist of the Americas, Hobe Sound), San Diego Christian's $49,766 ten-year earnings sit roughly mid-range. Azusa Pacific is a much stronger ROI choice within California Christian higher education, with substantially better completion and earnings.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego Christian College (this school) | 51 | $992 | $49,766 |
| Union University | 52 | $27,171 | $53,990 |
| Messiah University | 51 | $26,502 | $54,064 |
| Trevecca Nazarene University | 51 | $16,813 | $49,378 |
| Biola University | 50 | $31,495 | $56,778 |
| Olivet Nazarene University | 50 | $20,729 | $53,213 |
Who Thrives Here
With just 87 enrolled students and a 45% Pell rate, San Diego Christian is a tiny faith-based campus serving a narrow population of students seeking Christian college experience in the San Diego area. The school fits Pell-eligible students drawn to the religious community and willing to risk the 19.7% completion rate, but for ROI-focused families the math is hard to defend. The reported $992 net price for the lowest-income bracket is striking but applies to a small subset of attendees, and tuition pressure rises sharply for higher-income families.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The financial case for San Diego Christian College is mixed. At $992 per year net cost, graduates earn a median of $49,766 ten years after entry - a payback period of 9.7 years. That's below the average return for four-year institutions, and prospective students should carefully consider whether the investment aligns with their financial goals.
Key strengths include strong earnings premium over high school graduates. However, the data also shows a 19.7% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates.
Median debt of $24,941 against $49,766 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.