Multnomah University serves as an accessible pathway to Christian higher education, particularly for low-income and first-generation students who might not otherwise attend college.
The university's strength lies in its mission-driven community and personal attention rather than financial outcomes, making it suitable for students who prioritize faith and service over earnings potential.
Multnomah University is a small private Christian institution in Portland, Oregon, serving students who prioritize faith-based education and personal development over purely financial outcomes. With nearly half of students receiving Pell Grants and about 34% being first-generation college students, the university provides broad access to higher education within a Christian framework. However, graduates face financial challenges, with median 10-year earnings of $47,939 falling well below what similar students achieve at other institutions.
The university's outcomes reflect its mission-driven focus rather than career preparation for high-earning fields. Most graduates enter service-oriented professions like ministry, counseling, and education, where personal fulfillment often takes precedence over salary maximization. While this creates financial headwinds for many graduates, it aligns with the institution's values and the career paths students typically pursue.
For families who understand and accept these trade-offs, Multnomah offers the benefits of small-scale education, close faculty relationships, and a supportive Christian community. The university's 25% transfer-in rate suggests it serves as a destination for students seeking to complete their degrees in a faith-centered environment, even if that means accepting more modest long-term earnings compared to secular alternatives.
Multnomah University's academic program portfolio reflects its identity as a Christian institution focused on ministry preparation and faith-based service. The university's standout program in terms of scale and institutional focus is Bible/Biblical Studies, which graduates 45 students annually and represents the core of the institution's mission. However, this program's median early-career earnings of $25,658 illustrate the financial trade-offs inherent in choosing ministry-focused education.
The concentration in religious studies and related fields explains much of the university's earnings challenges compared to institutions with stronger business, technology, or healthcare programs. Unlike universities that offer diverse pathways to high-income careers, Multnomah's program mix is intentionally narrow, designed to prepare students for specific callings in ministry, missions, and faith-based service rather than maximizing earning potential.
This focused approach serves students who understand and accept the financial implications of their career choices. The university's program portfolio aligns with its mission but creates inherent limitations for graduates seeking high-income outcomes. Students should view Multnomah's programs as preparation for meaningful service rather than pathways to financial prosperity, understanding that the institution's value proposition centers on personal and spiritual development rather than economic advancement.
Graduates of Multnomah University face significant financial challenges in the job market. Ten years after enrollment, they earn a median of $47,939, which places the institution in the bottom third nationally for graduate earnings. More concerning, graduates earn about $4,400 less than what similar students achieve at other institutions, indicating that the university struggles to add economic value beyond what students might have earned elsewhere.
The university's single standout program in terms of aggregate return is Bible/Biblical Studies, which graduates 45 students annually with median early-career earnings of $25,658. This reflects the institution's primary mission of preparing students for ministry and faith-based service roles, where compensation is typically modest. The concentration in religious studies and related fields explains much of the earnings gap, as these career paths generally offer lower financial returns compared to business, technology, or healthcare fields that dominate at other institutions.
Only 10 graduates across all programs earn more than $75,000 annually, highlighting how few students achieve high-income outcomes. This pattern is consistent with the university's focus on ministry preparation and service-oriented careers, where personal mission often outweighs financial considerations. Students should expect that choosing Multnomah means prioritizing values alignment and personal calling over maximizing long-term earning potential.
Affordability at Multnomah University presents mixed signals for prospective families. Low-income students pay about $21,713 annually, while middle-income families face costs around $23,550, and higher-income families pay approximately $26,053. These net prices place the university in the bottom quarter nationally for affordability, meaning most families pay more here than at comparable institutions.
The debt burden compounds these affordability challenges. Typical graduates leave with $20,250 in federal student loan debt, and families often take on an additional $15,771 in Parent PLUS loans to cover remaining costs. This combined debt load becomes particularly problematic given the university's modest earnings outcomes, creating a challenging financial equation for many graduates.
What makes the affordability picture especially concerning is the mismatch between borrowing levels and earning capacity. With median graduate earnings of $47,939, many borrowers will find standard loan repayment challenging, particularly those entering ministry or other service fields where starting salaries are typically lower. Families considering Multnomah should carefully evaluate whether the debt required aligns with realistic post-graduation income expectations in their chosen field.
Multnomah University Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
