Sum Bible College provides focused biblical education with strong financial stewardship, maintaining a zero percent default rate that demonstrates graduates can manage their obligations despite modest earnings.
The institution serves as an accessible pathway to ministry careers for students from diverse economic backgrounds, particularly first-generation college students.
Sum Bible College And Theological Seminary is a small private nonprofit institution in El Dorado Hills, California, serving students pursuing biblical and theological education. The college maintains a strong commitment to accessibility, with over half of students receiving Pell Grants and 54% being first-generation college students. While the institution ranks in the lower percentiles nationally for earnings outcomes, this reflects its specialized mission in ministry and biblical studies rather than traditional career preparation.
The college offers an affordable path to Christian higher education, with net prices around $19,744 for low-income students and $21,081 for middle-income families. Graduation rates show 46% of students completing their degrees within six years, and the institution maintains a 0% federal loan default rate, indicating that graduates can manage their debt obligations despite modest earnings.
As a specialized theological institution, Sum Bible College serves a unique niche in higher education. Students here are typically pursuing ministry careers, biblical scholarship, or faith-based service roles where financial outcomes may be secondary to calling and mission. The college's small size and focused curriculum create an intimate learning environment centered on biblical studies and theological preparation.
Sum Bible College And Theological Seminary focuses primarily on biblical and theological studies, with Bible/Biblical Studies serving as the institution's flagship program. This program graduates 85 students annually and represents the core of the college's academic mission. Graduates in biblical studies typically earn around $21,824 in their early careers, reflecting entry-level positions in ministry, religious education, or faith-based organizations.
The concentrated program focus allows the institution to develop deep expertise in theological education and biblical scholarship. Students receive intensive training in scripture, theology, and ministry preparation that equips them for various roles within religious organizations. While earnings are modest compared to secular fields, graduates enter careers aligned with their calling and often receive additional benefits through churches or religious organizations that aren't captured in traditional salary data.
The program's outcomes should be understood within the context of ministry careers, where success is often measured by spiritual impact and service rather than financial compensation. Many graduates pursue roles as pastors, missionaries, religious educators, or nonprofit leaders where the intrinsic rewards of the work complement modest monetary compensation.
Graduates of Sum Bible College And Theological Seminary typically see modest financial returns that reflect the institution's specialized mission in ministry and biblical studies. Ten years after enrollment, graduates earn a median of $35,418, placing the institution in the bottom 5% nationally for earnings outcomes. This pattern is common among theological seminaries and bible colleges, where graduates often pursue ministry roles, missionary work, or faith-based service positions that prioritize calling over compensation.
The college's primary program is Bible/Biblical Studies, which graduates 85 students and represents the institution's core academic focus. Graduates in this field earn around $21,824 early in their careers, reflecting typical entry-level positions in ministry, religious education, or faith-based organizations. The specialized nature of these career paths means that traditional earnings metrics may not fully capture the value graduates receive from their education, as many pursue roles in churches, nonprofits, or mission organizations where compensation structures differ from secular employment.
While earnings are below national averages, the institution maintains a 0% federal loan default rate, suggesting that graduates can manage their debt obligations even with modest incomes. Many graduates likely supplement their primary ministry work with additional employment or receive housing and other benefits through religious organizations that aren't captured in traditional earnings data.
Sum Bible College And Theological Seminary offers relatively affordable access to specialized Christian higher education. Low-income students pay a net price of $19,744 annually, while middle-income families see costs around $21,081 per year. These prices place the institution in the lower third nationally for affordability, making theological education accessible to students from diverse economic backgrounds.
The college serves a predominantly need-based student population, with 53% of students receiving Pell Grants and 54% being first-generation college students. This demographic profile reflects the institution's commitment to providing educational opportunities for students who might not otherwise access higher education. The relatively modest net prices, combined with the college's specialized mission, create pathways for students called to ministry regardless of their family's financial circumstances.
Debt levels are manageable given the institution's mission and typical graduate outcomes. Students typically borrow $26,677 in federal loans, with some families taking on modest Parent PLUS debt averaging $7,103. The 0% federal loan default rate indicates that graduates successfully manage these obligations, likely through income-driven repayment plans that accommodate the variable income patterns common in ministry careers.
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