Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad West Coast Talmudical Seminary
Los Angeles, California · Private Nonprofit · 58.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 39/100 · Poor Value
Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad earns an ROI score of 39 in the Poor Value tier, primarily because the metric framework used for general higher education does not fit a religious seminary well. The most striking number is the 11.9% completion rate (subscore 2), which reflects the fact that the institution serves a population studying Talmudic and rabbinical training rather than typical degree-seeking students. Median 10-year earnings reach $48,361 and the payback period is 15 years. Tuition is just $16,900 with average net price of $14,959, totaling $59,836 over four years, modest by California private standards. Debt and repayment rate data are not reported in current Scorecard data. The school primarily prepares students for religious vocations, where post-graduate earnings reflect rabbinical, teaching, and community service roles rather than secular labor market wages. Standard ROI framing does not capture the school's mission or value proposition.
The data raises concerns about Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad West Coast Talmudical Seminary
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score39/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- 6-year graduation rate11.9% - Well below the 60% national average. Non-completion is the fastest route to negative ROI.
Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad West Coast Talmudical Seminary
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $16,900/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $16,900/yr |
| Average net price | $14,959/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $59,836 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $48,361 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | N/A |
| Median debt at graduation | N/A |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $0 |
| Estimated payback period | 15 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 11.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 163 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad West Coast Talmudical Seminary is $16,900/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $14,959/year, or roughly $59,836 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $14,300/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $10,300/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 $48,361 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is N/A - (insufficient data to assess).
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 | $14,300 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $15,486 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $13,987 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $16,940 |
| $110,001+ | $10,300 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $14,300 per year, $57,200 over four years. The price difference across income brackets is unusually compressed at this institution, reflecting the school's mission-driven aid approach rather than standard FAFSA-formula scaling.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The income bracket data shows clear inversions: $48,001-$75,000 pays just $13,987 (less than the $0-$30,000 bracket), and $75,001-$110,000 pays $16,940. These inversions almost certainly reflect small-sample variance given the 163-student enrollment, IPEDS net price by income data is unreliable at this scale and should be interpreted as a rough range rather than a price ladder.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Households over $110,000 pay $10,300 per year, the lowest reported bracket figure, another small-sample inversion. Over four years that's just $41,200, well below tuition. As with the middle-income data, this likely reflects a handful of high-aid recipients in a tiny enrollment cohort rather than a true high-income discount.
Earnings by Major
Top 1 most popular majors at Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad West Coast Talmudical Seminary with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Religion/Religious Studies | $38,872 | - |
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.
Religion/Religious Studies
Religion/Religious Studies is the institution's only reported program with 11 graduates. First-year earnings of $15,652 are extremely low, reflecting that recent graduates typically enter rabbinical training, religious teaching, or community service work rather than secular wage employment. Four-year earnings of $38,872 show meaningful growth as graduates settle into religious vocations. Debt and ROI grade data are not reported. The financial framework used for secular career programs is not the right lens for evaluating this credential, students are choosing it for religious training, not earnings maximization.
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 | 58.2% |
| Enrollment | 163 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 70.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $5,655 |
The seminary admits 58.2% of applicants. SAT and ACT mid-50% bands are not reported in current Scorecard data, which is consistent with a religious institution that uses non-standardized admissions criteria centered on religious study background and rabbinical recommendations. Standard test-based selectivity context does not apply here.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
The peer set includes the religious-affiliated Yeshiva of Nitra Rabbinical College and Clear Creek Baptist Bible College and Hobe Sound Bible College, all small religious-vocational institutions. Azusa Pacific (a much larger Christian university) and Art Center College of Design (a specialty design school) are also listed but have very different student profiles and outcomes. Among the religious-vocational peers, Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon's $48,361 ten-year earnings sit roughly mid-range for the type, all of these institutions serve students whose post-graduation paths prioritize religious or service vocations over secular wage maximization.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad West Coast Talmudical Seminary (this school) | 39 | $14,959 | $48,361 |
| Azusa Pacific University | 71 | $22,212 | $66,677 |
| Art Center College of Design | 56 | $48,661 | $71,958 |
| Clear Creek Baptist Bible College | 41 | $10,949 | $41,623 |
| Hobe Sound Bible College | 40 | $12,074 | $39,863 |
| Yeshiva of Nitra Rabbinical College | 39 | $10,880 | $41,785 |
Who Thrives Here
With 163 students and a 70.1% Pell rate, this is a small religious seminary serving observant Jewish students preparing for rabbinical, education, and community leadership roles within the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. The school fits a very specific population: students committed to Jewish religious study and vocations who want to study in the Los Angeles Chabad community. The standard ROI framework does not apply, applicants here are choosing the school for religious training, not labor market positioning.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad West Coast Talmudical Seminary. With a net cost of $14,959 per year and median graduate earnings of only $48,361 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 15 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include a 11.9% graduation rate and a long payback period.
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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.