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California Baptist University — ROI, Cost & Payback

Private nonprofit · Riverside, CA · 8,179 students

The verdict

California Baptist University charges a net price of $26,285/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $105,140. Graduates earn a median $61,504 ten years after entry, $13,144/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 8 years — a 20-year net return of $157,740, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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California Baptist University's 8-year payback ranks #686 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 46% of them, and #92 of 334 in California.

Better ROI than 46% of US colleges#686 of 1,280
Weakest ROIStrongest ROI
$26,285
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$61,504
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
8 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
85%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
California Baptist University: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$26,285/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$105,140our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$61,504Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$13,144/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$26,063Scorecard, 2026
Payback8 yrsour math
20-year net return$157,740our math

College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.

The arithmetic, on California Baptist University's own numbers. Net price $26,285 × 4 years = $105,140 total. Median earnings $61,504 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $13,144 a year of premium. $105,140 ÷ $13,144 = 8 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $157,740. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.

How much debt do California Baptist University students graduate with?

A median $26,063 in federal loans among completers, or 42% of the $61,504 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.

What share of California Baptist University students graduate?

62% finish their degree — 38% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $105,140 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $169,581 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is California Baptist University expensive compared with other California colleges?

Its $26,285 net price runs $6,380 above the $19,905 median across the 334 California colleges we profile, or $25,520 more across the full degree.

California Baptist University: frequently asked questions

Is California Baptist University worth the cost?
On the numbers, yes. California Baptist University charges $26,285/yr after aid ($105,140 over 4 years), and graduates earn a median $61,504 ten years out — $13,144/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. That clears the cost in 8 years and returns $157,740 net over 20 years, a solid payback.
How long does a California Baptist University degree take to pay off?
About 8 years. We divide the $105,140 four-year net cost by the $13,144/yr earnings premium over the high-school baseline. It is a floor, not a ceiling — mid-career raises pay it back faster.
How much does California Baptist University cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $26,285/yr — about $105,140 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does California Baptist University compare to other California colleges?
It ranks #92 of 334 California colleges we track by payback. Its $61,504 median earnings beat the national median of $43,549, and its $26,285 net price is above the national median of $16,902.