SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary
El Dorado Hills, California · Private Nonprofit · 40.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 19/100 · Poor Value
SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary scores 19 out of 100 on CampusROI, placing it firmly in the Poor Value tier on financial metrics, though context matters here. This is a tiny 198-student Pentecostal Bible college in El Dorado Hills, California, where most students are pursuing ministry vocations rather than maximizing labor-market earnings. The earnings premium reads as 0.5% above high-school-only peers, the payback period clocks in at 542.4 years (i.e., never), and the debt-to-earnings ratio sits at 1.06 against $26,677 in median federal debt. The one genuinely strong number is the 84.8% completion rate, which earns a sub-score of 93 and reflects a small, mission-aligned student body that mostly finishes what they start. But the repayment rate of 35.1% is the lowest sub-score on the page (just 2 out of 100), suggesting most borrowers are not actively reducing principal. Sticker tuition is $10,460 per year, but average net price is actually higher at $21,680, indicating institutional aid is minimal and most cost is covered out of pocket or via loans. Four-year total cost lands near $86,720. Median earnings six years out are $25,100 rising only to $35,418 by year ten. Anyone evaluating this purely on financial ROI should look elsewhere; the value here is religious vocation, not labor-market return.
The data raises concerns about SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score19/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Debt-to-earnings1.06 - Advisors recommend total student debt stay below one year of salary (ratio under 1.0).
- Payback period>50 years - Graduates earn at or near the level of high school completers — the cost may not recoup within a working career.
SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $10,460/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $10,460/yr |
| Average net price | $21,680/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $86,720 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $35,418 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $25,100 |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,677 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $283 |
| Estimated payback period | >50 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 84.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 198 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary is $10,460/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $21,680/year, or roughly $86,720 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $21,249/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $17,426/year.
The median graduate leaves with $26,677 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $283 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $35,418 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 1.06 - above the recommended threshold where total debt should not exceed first-year salary.
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 | $21,249 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $22,068 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $21,807 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $23,144 |
| $110,001+ | $17,426 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 face an average net price of $21,249 per year, totaling roughly $85,000 over four years. With $25,100 in six-year median earnings, this price is genuinely difficult to recover on labor-market terms alone. Low-income students should expect to draw heavily on federal loans, scholarships, or church-funded sponsorships to make this work.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001 to $75,000 bracket pays $21,807 and the $75,001 to $110,000 bracket pays $23,144. Four-year totals are $87,200 to $92,600. The aid curve is essentially flat across the lower three brackets, indicating SUM has very limited institutional aid to deploy and most discount comes from federal Pell.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 actually pay LESS at $17,426 per year than middle-income families, an inverted bracket worth flagging. Four-year cost lands near $69,700. This unusual inversion may reflect merit-aid or endowed-scholarship policies that favor higher-income academically prepared applicants, or simply small-sample noise in the Scorecard cohort. Either way, families in this bracket are paying the lowest effective price.
Earnings by Major
Top 1 most popular majors at SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Bible/Biblical Studies | $36,973 | F |
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.
Bible/Biblical Studies
Bible/Biblical Studies is the school's signature program with 13 graduates per cohort. Year-one earnings of $26,407 climb to $36,973 by year four. Median debt of $29,299 against those earnings produces a 1.11 debt-to-earnings ratio and an F ROI grade. This is the entire economic story of the school: graduates who go on to pastoral roles, missionary work, or denominational employment may receive housing, vehicle, and benefit packages that don't appear in tax records, but on a pure earnings-versus-debt basis, this program does not pencil out and students should not borrow heavily for it.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 29.9% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 35.1% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 41.4% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 32.7% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 40.7% |
| Enrollment | 198 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 44.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $5,000 |
SUM Bible College admits 40.7% of applicants, which makes it more selective on paper than its small-Bible-college peers. Standardized test mid-ranges are not reported, consistent with a faith-based institution that screens on denominational affiliation, pastoral references, and statement of faith rather than test scores. The 84.8% completion rate suggests this admissions screen does effectively select for students who will finish.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Peer schools are Art Center College of Design, Azusa Pacific University, Universidad Teologica del Caribe, Caribbean University Vega Baja, and Carolina College of Biblical Studies. The peer-list match is uneven; Art Center and Azusa Pacific are dramatically larger and stronger institutions and not really comparable. The closer comparables are Universidad Teologica del Caribe and Carolina College of Biblical Studies, both small Bible-focused colleges whose financial-ROI profiles look similar to SUM's. Among the genuinely comparable peers, SUM's high completion rate stands out as a relative strength.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary (this school) | 19 | $21,680 | $35,418 |
| Azusa Pacific University | 71 | $22,212 | $66,677 |
| Art Center College of Design | 56 | $48,661 | $71,958 |
| Universidad Teologica del Caribe | 20 | $9,045 | $23,536 |
| Caribbean University-Vega Baja | 20 | $5,235 | $22,842 |
| Carolina College of Biblical Studies | 17 | $21,322 | $24,581 |
Who Thrives Here
SUM Bible College serves 198 students with a 44.7% Pell rate. The fit case is narrow and specific: students called to Pentecostal or charismatic Christian ministry who specifically want training tied to the school's denominational tradition and who can finance their education with minimal borrowing. The 84.8% completion rate is genuinely high, and graduates entering ministry roles often see non-cash compensation (housing, benefits) that does not show up in IRS-record earnings. Students considering this purely as a credentialing pathway should weigh the labor-market data hard.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary. With a net cost of $21,680 per year and median graduate earnings of only $35,418 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 84.8% graduation rate. However, the data also shows weak earnings relative to cost and high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $26,677 against $35,418 in earnings is concerning. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.75 exceeds the commonly recommended threshold. Major choice is critical here.
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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.