Criswell College's greatest strength lies in making private Christian education financially accessible, with middle-income families paying significantly less than at most private institutions.
The college's zero default rate and strong affordability performance demonstrate its commitment to responsible financial stewardship for students and families.
Criswell College is a small private Christian institution in Dallas, Texas, that focuses on providing affordable theological and liberal arts education. While the college doesn't rank among the top performers nationally for earnings outcomes, it offers significant value through its affordability and personalized educational approach. The institution serves about 34% Pell Grant recipients and maintains a 14% transfer-in rate, indicating its role in providing educational opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds.
What distinguishes Criswell is its commitment to keeping costs manageable for families across income levels. Middle-income students pay around $11,109 annually, while higher-income families see net prices of about $21,955 - both figures that reflect substantial institutional aid. The college's small size enables close faculty-student relationships and individualized attention that larger institutions often cannot provide.
As a faith-based institution, Criswell attracts students who value the integration of Christian principles with their academic studies. The college's mission centers on preparing students for ministry and Christian service, which explains why traditional earnings metrics may not fully capture the institution's value proposition. For families seeking an affordable private education grounded in Christian values, Criswell offers a distinctive alternative to both secular institutions and more expensive religious colleges.
Criswell College's program offerings center on theological education and Christian ministry preparation, reflecting its mission as a faith-based institution. While specific program-level data isn't available, the college's focus on biblical studies, theology, and ministry-related fields explains the modest earnings outcomes seen among graduates. These programs prepare students for careers in pastoral ministry, Christian education, missionary work, and faith-based counseling, where compensation structures differ significantly from secular professions.
The college's approach to education emphasizes spiritual formation alongside academic learning, preparing graduates for roles where success is measured by ministry impact rather than financial returns. Students typically pursue degrees in areas like biblical studies, Christian counseling, ministry leadership, and theological studies, all of which lead to service-oriented careers with modest but stable compensation.
For students called to ministry or Christian service, Criswell provides specialized preparation that secular institutions cannot offer. The college's small size allows for mentorship relationships with faculty who often have extensive ministry experience themselves. While these programs may not generate high early-career salaries, they prepare graduates for meaningful work that aligns with their faith and calling, representing value that extends beyond traditional financial metrics.
Graduates of Criswell College see modest long-term financial outcomes that reflect the institution's focus on ministry and service-oriented careers. Ten years after enrollment, graduates earn a median of $43,185, which places the college in the lower quartile nationally for earnings outcomes. Six-year earnings are similarly modest at $42,026, showing relatively flat income growth in the early career years. These figures align with the career paths many Criswell graduates pursue in ministry, education, and nonprofit work, where financial compensation often reflects the service-oriented nature of the roles rather than market-driven salary levels.
The college's earnings profile makes sense given its mission and program focus. Many graduates enter fields like pastoral ministry, Christian education, missionary work, and faith-based counseling, where compensation structures differ significantly from business, technology, or healthcare careers. While these paths may not generate high early-career salaries, they often provide meaningful work aligned with graduates' values and calling. The relatively stable earnings between years six and ten suggest that graduates find consistent employment in their chosen fields, even if salary growth is limited.
For students whose primary goal is maximizing lifetime earnings, Criswell may not be the optimal choice. However, for those called to ministry or Christian service, the college provides preparation for meaningful careers where success is measured by impact rather than income alone.
Criswell College demonstrates strong affordability performance, particularly for middle-income families seeking private education options. Middle-income students pay approximately $11,109 per year in net costs, representing substantial savings compared to typical private college pricing. Higher-income families see net prices around $21,955, which remains competitive within the private nonprofit sector. The college's affordability percentile of 76.7% indicates that it costs less than most comparable institutions, making private Christian education accessible to families who might otherwise be priced out.
The institution's financial aid strategy appears designed to make education accessible across income levels. While low-income net price data isn't available, the college's 34% Pell Grant share suggests meaningful support for students from lower-income backgrounds. The substantial gap between middle and high-income net prices indicates that the college uses a sliding scale approach to pricing, ensuring that families with greater need receive proportionally more assistance.
Debt levels for graduates are moderate, with typical federal student loan debt of $25,346. Given the college's focus on ministry and service careers, this debt load requires careful consideration, as graduates may have limited earning potential for rapid repayment. However, the college's 0% federal loan default rate suggests that graduates generally manage their debt obligations successfully, likely through income-driven repayment plans or other flexible arrangements that accommodate the realities of ministry and service work.
Criswell College Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
