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# Best Bible/Biblical Studies Programs in California (2026)

Updated September 30, 2026

This page ranks the 6 Bible/Biblical Studies programs in California by the median earnings of Bible/Biblical Studies graduates four years after completing, highest first. [Biola University](/school/biola-university/majors/) leads the list with median earnings of $58,569 for its graduates four years after completing.

Across the listed programs, the figures range from $58,569 to $24,035, with a median of $41,864. For 2 of the 6 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.

All 6 schools on the list are 6 private nonprofit institutions. [Fresno Pacific University](/school/fresno-pacific-university/majors/) posts the lowest average net price at $13,630, and Fresno Pacific University ranks 419th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Life Pacific University reports the highest admission rate, admitting 96% of applicants.

## The ranked list

6 schools in list order

| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Biola University · La Mirada, CA | $58,569 | $31,495 | $27,144 | 74.4% |
|  | [Biola University](/school/biola-university/majors/) reports [$58,569 in median earnings](/school/biola-university/outcomes/) for its Bible/Biblical Studies graduates four years after completing, alongside a 13-graduate earnings cohort. |
| 2 | Fresno Pacific University · Fresno, CA | $51,475 | $13,630 | $11,133 | 64.1% |
|  | [Fresno Pacific University](/school/fresno-pacific-university/majors/) ranks 2nd on this list and posts an [average net price of $13,630,](/school/fresno-pacific-university/cost/) the lowest among the six schools. |
| 3 | Life Pacific University · San Dimas, CA | $46,756 | $20,898 | $16,786 | 95.8% |
|  | Life Pacific University admits 96% of applicants and shows median federal debt of $26,567 among Bible/Biblical Studies completers who borrowed. |
| 4 | SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary · El Dorado Hills, CA | $36,973 | $21,680 | $21,249 | 40.7% |
|  | SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary sits 4th on this page with a 47-graduate cohort and an admission rate of 41%, the most selective on the list. |
| 5 | California Baptist University · Riverside, CA | $32,569 | $26,285 | $22,298 | 84.9% |
|  | [California Baptist University](/school/california-baptist-university/majors/) records [median earnings of $32,569](/school/california-baptist-university/outcomes/) for its Bible/Biblical Studies graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $26,285. |
| 6 | Azusa Pacific University · Azusa, CA | $24,035 | $22,212 | $15,781 | 88.4% |
|  | [Azusa Pacific University](/school/azusa-pacific-university/majors/) reports [$24,035 in median earnings](/school/azusa-pacific-university/outcomes/) four years after completing and an average net price of $15,781 for families earning under $30,000. |

## How this list is ordered

Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Bible/Biblical Studies graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in California appear. The figures cover federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after finishing. For 2 of the 6 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The gap between first-ranked Biola University and second-ranked Fresno Pacific University is $7,094, and the spread from the top of the list to the bottom reaches $34,534.

## Job market context in California

The occupations linked to Bible/Biblical Studies in California include roles such as Directors, Religious Activities and Education and Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary. Across those occupations, the median annual wage is $68,444, and a quarter of workers in those occupations earn less than $52,593. Projections for 2024 to 2034 show about 1,030 openings a year, or about 678 openings a year for every hundred graduates, with more projected openings than graduates. Projections for 2024 to 2034 put employment in those occupations about 2.8% higher. Wages and top occupations exclude management occupations; openings include them. The ranking above uses the median earnings of graduates four years after completing, which is a separate measure from the occupational wage figures described here.

## Related rankings

-   [Bible/Biblical Studies Programs in the United States](/rankings/best-biblebiblical-studies-programs/)
-   [Best Colleges in California](/rankings/best-colleges-in-california/)
-   Theology Colleges in California