William Jessup University
Rocklin, California · Private Nonprofit · 93.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 45/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
William Jessup University scores 45 (Below Average Value), a result driven by an 11.9-year payback period, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.617, and a completion rate of 56%. Net price of $28,062 against median 6-year earnings of $38,400 produces a slow return. Jessup is a small (1,294 students) nondenominational Christian university in Rocklin, California - part of the Sacramento evangelical higher education cluster. The earnings premium subscore of 38 (18.9% above baseline) indicates graduates earn only modestly more than those who did not attend college. The repayment rate of 71.5% suggests a meaningful share of graduates struggle with debt repayment.
William Jessup University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $37,150/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $37,150/yr |
| Average net price | $28,062/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $112,248 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $56,257 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $38,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,700 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $251 |
| Estimated payback period | 11.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 56.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,294 |
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: $37,150/year. Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $28,062/year, or roughly $112,248 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 $23,123/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $34,753/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $23,700 in federal loans, which works out to about $251 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $56,257 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.62, within the range advisors call workable but worth keeping an eye on.
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 | $23,123 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $22,690 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $24,674 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $30,717 |
| $110,001+ | $34,753 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The lowest income bracket (0-$30,000) pays $23,123 per year at Jessup. This is a very high net cost for Pell-eligible families - only modestly below sticker. Low-income students at Jessup face a difficult financial situation: $23k annual cost, $38,400 median earnings, 11.9-year payback, and a 56% completion rate. The financial risk is high for this group.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families in the $48,001-75,000 range pay $24,674 per year, and the $75,001-110,000 bracket pays $30,717. Net prices are nearly flat across income ranges, indicating limited aid differentiation by income. Families in the middle-income range pay nearly as much as lower-income families - a poor aid structure for those who most need differentiation.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $34,753 per year, approaching sticker. At an 11.9-year payback and median earnings of $38,400, full-pay attendance is difficult to justify on financial grounds alone. Families choosing Jessup at full pay are making a values-based rather than financial decision.
Earnings by Major
Top 5 most popular majors at William Jessup University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $65,031 | C+ |
| Psychology | $50,354 | C |
| Teacher Education | $49,540 | C+ |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $53,692 | C |
| Theological and Ministerial Studies | $47,102 | C+ |
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 Jessup's highest-volume program at 62 graduates and its best earnings performer: $43,349 year-one, $65,031 at year four. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.548 (ROI grade C+) reflects median debt of $23,738 against $43k year-one earnings - workable but not comfortable given the $28,062 net price. Business graduates enter the Sacramento regional market in corporate and nonprofit roles; year-four earnings of $65k reflect mid-career progression in a mid-tier market.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education graduates 19 students with $44,985 year-one and $49,540 at year four. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.461 (ROI grade C+) reflects median debt of $20,718 against California teacher salaries - relatively manageable compared to teacher education at other private schools. Year-four earnings near $49k reflect California K-12 salary scales in the Sacramento region. The debt load is lower than at many peer institutions, which partially compensates for the modest earnings.
Psychology
Psychology graduates 46 students with $31,905 year-one and $50,354 at year four. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.674 (ROI grade C) reflects median debt of $21,500 against year-one earnings that are challenging for early-career financial management. The year-four improvement to $50k suggests graduate school or social services career paths. At Jessup's $28,062 net price, psychology produces a poor early-career financial return.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 66.0% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 71.5% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 68.3% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 79.8% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How William Jessup University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2023).
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 | 93.3% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 488-590 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 553-638 |
| Enrollment | 1,294 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 31.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,173 |
At 93.3% acceptance, Jessup admits nearly all applicants. The SAT Reading range of 553-638 is slightly above the national average while Math (488-590) is at or below - a pattern consistent with a humanities-oriented evangelical student population. Academic selectivity is not a meaningful filter here; mission fit and financial capacity are the real admission variables.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
William Jessup's peers include Art Center College of Design, Azusa Pacific University, Texas Lutheran University, University of Northwestern-St. Paul, and Concordia University Chicago. At ROI 45, Jessup is among the weakest-performing California private colleges on financial metrics. Azusa Pacific (ROI 71) offers a larger Christian university experience with better earnings outcomes at a comparable price point. Jessup's value, to the extent it exists, is its smaller community and specific evangelical environment.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| William Jessup University (this school) | 45 | $28,062 | $56,257 |
| Azusa Pacific University | 71 | $22,212 | $66,677 |
| Art Center College of Design | 56 | $48,661 | $71,958 |
| Concordia University-Chicago | 49 | $18,436 | $54,089 |
| University of Northwestern-St Paul | 47 | $27,705 | $50,755 |
| Texas Lutheran University | 45 | $24,654 | $53,863 |
Who Thrives Here
William Jessup admits 93.3% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 488-590 Math and 553-638 Reading - accessible to nearly any applicant who meets basic requirements. At 1,294 enrolled students, the campus is small and faith-community-oriented. With 31.7% Pell recipients, the school serves a mix of lower-middle and working-class students who value the Christian environment. Jessup fits students for whom evangelical community, ministry, and faith integration are the primary criteria. Students whose primary goal is earnings maximization will find better options in the Sacramento market (Sacramento State, UC Davis) at comparable or lower cost.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for William Jessup University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $28,062 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $56,257 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 11.9 years to earn the cost back - slower than most four-year schools. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, concerning loan repayment rates.
Median debt of $23,700 against $56,257 in earnings is reasonable, though your major matters a lot here. Graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
From CampusROI, when there is 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.