Trinity Christian College
Palos Heights, Illinois · Private Nonprofit · 84.9% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 58/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Trinity Christian College scores 58 (Below Average Value), a small Reformed Christian institution in Palos Heights, IL (suburban Chicago) with 820 enrolled students. The score reflects a 10.5-year payback period, a 0.632 debt-to-earnings ratio, and a 57.5% completion rate. The standout metric is a repayment rate of 85.5% - indicating that graduates who do complete are managing debt reasonably well, which separates Trinity from institutions with similar earnings and debt figures but worse repayment outcomes. Net price of $19,125 is modest relative to the $20,605 sticker, and the four-year total cost is $76,500. Nursing is the best-performing program: 22 graduates, $76,446 year-one, $79,811 at year four, grade B. Teacher Education graduates (14 at $45,968 year-one) and Subject-Specific Teacher Education (15 graduates) land in C territory. Psychology graduates (19 at $32,609 year-one) carry a D grade with a 0.828 debt-to-earnings ratio. The 57.5% completion rate means 4 in 10 students who start here don't finish, which is the institution's most significant structural problem.
Trinity Christian College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $20,605/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $20,605/yr |
| Average net price | $19,125/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $76,500 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $55,700 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $39,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,009 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $265 |
| Estimated payback period | 10.5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 57.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 820 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $20,605/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $19,125/year, or roughly $76,500 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $12,891/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $23,986/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $25,009, which works out to about $265 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($39,600) and comes to 0.63, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
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 | $12,891 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $13,587 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $15,592 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $18,846 |
| $110,001+ | $23,986 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $12,891 per year at Trinity, reflecting genuine need-based aid. The 30001-48000 bracket pays $13,587. The 57.5% completion rate is still a risk to monitor, but the financial entry point is not itself the barrier.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $15,592 at Trinity, rising to $18,846 for the 75001-110000 bracket. Middle-income families considering Trinity should focus on which program their student is entering: the nursing pathway at $15,000-$19,000 per year is a strong value; psychology at the same price is much weaker.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $23,986 per year at Trinity, totaling roughly $96,000 over four years. At $39,600 average earnings and a 10.5-year payback, full-pay Trinity is financially marginal for most majors. Nursing ($76,446 year-one) is the exception - the payback against $24,000 per year is roughly 5 years.
Earnings by Major
Top 9 most popular majors at Trinity Christian College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $79,811 | B |
| Psychology | $51,104 | D |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $44,538 | C |
| Teacher Education | $49,476 | C |
| Special Education and Teaching | $55,713 | D |
| Social Work | $52,382 | - |
| Communication and Media Studies | $47,527 | - |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $78,165 | - |
| Marketing | $62,334 | - |
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.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is Trinity's highest-value program: 22 graduates, $76,446 year-one, $79,811 at year four, debt-to-earnings 0.353 (grade B) on $27,000 median debt. Year-one earnings of $76,446 are strong for a small Illinois private college, reflecting both Chicago-area nursing wages and the program's clinical placement. The four-year figure of $79,811 is modest relative to year-one, suggesting a relatively flat early career trajectory consistent with staff nursing roles. For students who can gain admission to Trinity's nursing program, this is a defensible financial choice given the institution's low net price.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education produces 14 graduates at $45,968 year-one and $49,476 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.587 (grade C) on $27,000 median debt. The grade C reflects that $27,000 in debt against $45,968 year-one earnings is serviceable but not clean - about a six-year payback on debt alone.
Psychology
Psychology earns a D grade: 19 graduates, $32,609 year-one, $51,104 at year four, debt-to-earnings 0.828 on $27,000 median debt. At $32,609 year-one in the Chicago suburbs, psychology graduates face significant cost-of-living pressure relative to their earnings. The D grade reflects a debt burden that takes over 10 years to pay off relative to the earnings premium psychology provides. Students interested in psychology at Trinity should be planning for graduate school - the bachelor's degree alone does not produce competitive labor market outcomes at this price point.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 81.2% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 85.5% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 72.6% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 79.6% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Trinity Christian College’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 84.9% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 540-660 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 510-660 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 20-25 |
| Enrollment | 820 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 34.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,524 |
At 84.9% admission, Trinity is broadly accessible. The SAT mid-range of 540-660 Math and 510-660 Reading is moderate. The ACT composite is 20-25. The admission process emphasizes fit with Trinity's confessional Christian identity alongside academic credentials. Prospective students should inquire about specific nursing program prerequisites and acceptance rates within the major, as that program drives the institution's best outcomes.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trinity Christian College (this school) | 58 | $19,125 | $55,700 |
| Augustana College | 67 | $22,736 | $62,971 |
| Goshen College | 60 | $14,493 | $51,943 |
| University of Saint Mary | 58 | $22,519 | $59,483 |
| Cedar Crest College | 58 | $18,659 | $59,460 |
| School of the Art Institute of Chicago | 21 | $49,790 | $40,151 |
Who Thrives Here
Trinity admits 84.9% of applicants. SAT mid-ranges are 540-660 Math and 510-660 Reading; ACT composite 20-25. Trinity has 820 enrolled undergraduates. The 34.6% Pell grant rate suggests a moderate-income student body. Trinity's Reformed Christian identity shapes the campus culture and curriculum - it is a faith formation institution first, and students who self-select based on that mission are different from typical ROI-driven applicants.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Trinity Christian College is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $19,125 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $55,700 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 10.5 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What it has going for it: high loan repayment success. What to keep an eye on: a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63 (median across the schools we score: 0.61).
Median debt of $25,009 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $39,600 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Trinity Christian College: Common Questions
Is Trinity Christian College worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Trinity Christian College scores 58/100 on our ROI scale. At $19,125 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $55,700 ten years after entry, so it takes about 10.5 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Trinity Christian College cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $19,125 a year, or roughly $76,500 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Trinity Christian College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $55,700 ten years after enrolling, roughly $13,900 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Trinity Christian College?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 10.5 years for Trinity Christian College. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Trinity Christian College graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,009, against average earnings of $39,600 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Trinity Christian College?
The six-year graduation rate is 57.5%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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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.