At $27,384/yr net price, California Baptist University graduates earn $61,504/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $27,504/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $27,384 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $109,536 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $61,504/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$27,504/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 4 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 59.5% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $26,063 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $23,788/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $24,409/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $23,799/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $28,057/yr |
| $110,001+ | $34,648/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Master | $111,769 | $93,083 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $84,201 | $33,323 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $73,075 | $23,851 |
| Civil Engineering. | Bachelor | $70,009 | $27,000 |
| Public Administration. | Bachelor | $69,338 | $36,707 |
| Mechanical Engineering. | Bachelor | $68,499 | $27,000 |
| Computer Engineering. | Bachelor | $66,821 | $26,800 |
| Public Administration. | Master | $63,005 | $27,334 |
| Education, General. | Master | $61,060 | $32,157 |
| Business/Commerce, General. | Master | $57,318 | $30,750 |
The Risk Factor
59.5% of students at California Baptist University graduate within 6 years. More than half of students finish, but the dropout rate is a real factor in whether this investment pays off.
Analysis
California Baptist University gives you a mixed financial return. You pay $27,384 a year net and come out with median earnings of $61,504 a decade later, against median debt of $26,063. That debt-to-earnings ratio is manageable, but the payoff depends heavily on what you study.
Nursing is the clear winner here. Graduates earn the most of any program at CBU, enough to absorb the higher $33,323 debt load that comes with it. Engineering pays off cleanly across the board: civil, mechanical, and computer engineering all land in the high $60,000s while carrying debt near or below the school median. You get a better ratio from these engineering paths than from nursing, since the borrowing stays lower.
Public administration is the outlier to watch. It earns well but saddles you with the highest debt of any listed program, so the math is tighter than the salary alone suggests.
The real risk at CBU is not finishing. Only about 6 in 10 students graduate, and roughly a quarter don't return after year one. Leaving with debt and no degree is the worst outcome here, and the odds of that are not small.
The net price tiers reward lower-income families. If your family earns under $110k, you pay close to $24,000 a year. Above $110k, the price jumps to $34,648, so wealthier families carry noticeably more of the cost.
CBU is a solid financial fit if you enroll in nursing or engineering and are confident you'll finish. If you're drawn to lower-earning majors outside those fields, or if there's real doubt you'll make it to graduation, the private-college price tag makes this a harder bet, and a lower-cost public option may serve you better.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is California Baptist University worth the cost?
California Baptist University graduates earn a median of $61,504 after 10 years, which is modest compared to the $27,384 annual net price. The nursing programs offer strong returns with graduates earning over $80,000, but other majors may struggle to justify the cost.
What are the best paying majors at California Baptist University?
Nursing programs at California Baptist University provide the strongest financial returns, with some graduates earning over $111,000 annually. Business administration and civil engineering also show decent outcomes at around $70,000, while other programs may not offer competitive salaries.
How much debt do California Baptist University students graduate with?
California Baptist University graduates leave with a median debt of $26,063. This debt load is manageable for nursing graduates who earn strong salaries, but may be challenging for students in lower-paying programs to repay.
Does California Baptist University have good graduation rates?
California Baptist University has a 59.5% graduation rate, which is below average for four-year institutions. This means about 4 in 10 students don't complete their degree, creating additional financial risk for families investing in the education.