Talmudical Seminary Oholei Torah
Brooklyn, New York · Private Nonprofit · 77.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 35/100 · Poor Value
Talmudical Seminary Oholei Torah is an Orthodox Jewish religious seminary in Brooklyn's Crown Heights neighborhood, scoring 35 (Poor Value) by our scoring methodology. The score is somewhat misleading because traditional ROI metrics don't capture the school's mission. The data: $8,750 tuition, $10,755 net price, no reported median debt (the federal loan participation appears minimal, which produces the 0 debt-to-earnings ratio - a structural artifact), and ten-year median earnings of just $39,230. Earnings are this low because most graduates pursue religious vocations (rabbinical study, Jewish education, community service) rather than secular career paths that show up in federal earnings data. Completion is 22.2% as measured by Scorecard's 4-year/6-year metric, but that metric doesn't capture religious-study persistence that often continues across multiple institutions and life stages. With 400 students and 64.6% Pell rate, the school serves an overwhelmingly Orthodox Jewish community in Brooklyn. As of 2024-2025 Scorecard data, this is a religious institution whose value is measured in spiritual and communal terms, not financial ones - our score should be interpreted in that context.
The data raises concerns about Talmudical Seminary Oholei Torah
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score35/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- 6-year graduation rate22.2% - Well below the 60% national average. Non-completion is the fastest route to negative ROI.
- Payback period43.3 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Talmudical Seminary Oholei Torah
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $8,750/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $8,750/yr |
| Average net price | $10,755/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $43,020 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $39,230 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $28,000 |
| Median debt at graduation | N/A |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $0 |
| Estimated payback period | 43.3 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 22.2% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 400 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Talmudical Seminary Oholei Torah is $8,750/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $10,755/year, or roughly $43,020 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $10,333/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 $39,230 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 | $10,333 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $9,714 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $11,613 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $12,506 |
| $110,001+ | N/A |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30K pay $10,333 net per year, and the $30K-$48K band pays $9,714 - a mild inverted bracket. Pell-stacking helps, and the school's low absolute price keeps four-year cost near $40K. Within the Orthodox Jewish community context, this is affordable and the family expectation of religious vocation makes secular earnings data largely irrelevant.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48K-$75K band pays $11,613 and the $75K-$110K band pays $12,506. Middle-income costs of roughly $46K-$50K over four years are modest by NYC-area standards. The financial analysis is largely moot here - families enrolling at Oholei Torah are doing so for religious reasons, not financial-return reasons.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Net price for families above $110K is not reported, likely because the school enrolls very few such families - the institution's mission and community draw from a defined religious population rather than across income strata. The school's pricing doesn't appear designed to extract from high-income families.
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 | 77.2% |
| Enrollment | 400 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 64.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,365 |
Oholei Torah admits 77.2% of applicants. The school does not report SAT or ACT mid-ranges, consistent with religious-seminary admission processes that emphasize Jewish learning background, rabbinical recommendations, and personal interview rather than standardized testing. The 22.2% completion rate as measured by Scorecard methodology is structurally low because the metric doesn't accommodate religious-study patterns that span multiple yeshivot, kollelim, and life stages.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Among named peers, comparison is structurally difficult because Oholei Torah's mission differs fundamentally from secular institutions like Adelphi or specialized professional schools like Albany College of Pharmacy. College of Biblical Studies-Houston and University of Fort Lauderdale represent the closest analogs - small religious-formation schools where federal earnings metrics undercount actual mission outcomes. Rosemont College is a small Catholic liberal arts school with somewhat different positioning. The peer comparison reveals that all faith-formation schools struggle with ROI scoring methodologies designed for career-oriented institutions.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Talmudical Seminary Oholei Torah (this school) | 35 | $10,755 | $39,230 |
| Yeshiva of Nitra Rabbinical College | 39 | $10,880 | $41,785 |
| Uta Mesivta of Kiryas Joel | 39 | $4,156 | $31,853 |
| United Talmudical Seminary | 36 | $6,640 | $25,113 |
| Kehilath Yakov Rabbinical Seminary | 33 | $3,822 | $36,442 |
| Talmudical Seminary of Bobov | 30 | $2,840 | $22,432 |
Who Thrives Here
Oholei Torah fits Orthodox Jewish students - primarily young men from Chabad-Lubavitch and broader Chasidic communities - pursuing intensive Talmudic study and rabbinical training. With 64.6% Pell rate and 400 students, the campus serves an economically modest but tight-knit religious community. The school's value is entirely captured in its religious mission; secular career-outcome metrics fundamentally don't apply. Strong fit only for students committed to a life of Jewish learning and religious vocation; bad fit (in terms of relevant analysis) for anyone evaluating it through a career-ROI lens.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Talmudical Seminary Oholei Torah. With a net cost of $10,755 per year and median graduate earnings of only $39,230 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 43.3 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Key strengths include manageable debt relative to earnings. However, the data also shows weak earnings relative to cost and a 22.2% graduation rate and a long payback period.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
New analyses, updated school profiles, and tools - when there’s something worth acting on.
Rankings & Links
Guides & Tools
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.