Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Azusa Pacific University #478 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azusa Pacific University sits in the 89.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earn about $12,819 more than similar students at comparable institutions. Azimuth ranks Nursing #8 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment — a program-level signal anchored in Azusa Pacific University's dominant health-sciences focus. Graduates of Azusa Pacific University earn in the 89.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting the institution's strength in health and applied professional programs that translate reliably into early-career earnings. Azimuth's composite ranking captures how Azusa Pacific University balances return, access, and affordability — with its health-sciences concentration driving above-average graduate outcomes relative to comparable private institutions.
Azimuth ranks Azusa Pacific University #478 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university located in Azusa, CA, Azusa Pacific University enrolls roughly 2,759 undergraduates. Freshman retention stands at 84.0% and the six-year graduation rate is 61.8%, reflecting a student body that largely completes what it starts. The composite is anchored by return on investment. Azimuth ranks Azusa Pacific University #181 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median four-year earnings of $71,925, and earn about $12,819 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Azusa Pacific University in the 89.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's concentration in Health — a field with strong and stable labor-market demand — helps explain why graduates consistently outperform earnings expectations relative to students at comparable institutions. Access and affordability shape the composite's lower pillars. Azusa Pacific University sits in the 51.8 percentile for access and the 44.2 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting the cost structure typical of private nonprofit universities and a student body where 35.1% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 38.0% are first-generation college students. Mobility sits in the 37.4 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, supported by the career pathways that Health-oriented programs tend to open.
Azusa Pacific University's published cost of attendance is $56,313. Net price by income band shows how financial aid reshapes that headline figure: low-income families pay approximately $15,781, middle-income families pay around $22,998, and higher-income families pay approximately $27,193. Azimuth ranks Azusa Pacific University #795 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Azusa Pacific University meets demonstrated financial need through a combination of need-based grants, merit scholarships, and federal aid programs. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile, and the university participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. The affordability rank reflects both the net-price structure and the debt load graduates carry: understanding how net price and sticker price can differ substantially helps families calibrate their planning. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $23,219, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $26,000; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at Azusa Pacific University's median four-year earnings of $71,925, median federal debt of $23,219 projects to a monthly payment of about $262 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Azusa Pacific University is a strong fit for students drawn to health, nursing, and applied professional fields who want a faith-affiliated private university experience in Southern California and are comfortable with a higher-cost private institution in exchange for career-ready program depth. Graduates earn about $12,819 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Azusa Pacific University in the 89.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $71,925, placing Azusa Pacific University in the 73.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions — a competitive result given the institution's concentration in Health and related applied fields. Azusa Pacific University enrolls 35.1% Pell-eligible undergraduates and 38.0% first-generation students, and Pell recipients complete at a rate of 57.5% — a signal that the institution supports access-oriented students through to graduation. Median student debt at graduation is $23,219, a figure families should weigh carefully against the net price higher-income families pay of $27,193. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the institution's program portfolio is concentrated in Health and professionally oriented fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes, while those seeking broad liberal arts or STEM-research depth may find a better match elsewhere. The private nonprofit structure also means costs run higher than comparable public options in CA, making financial aid packaging and debt planning important steps before enrolling.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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This is the Azusa Pacific University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Azusa Pacific University's published cost of attendance is $56,313. Net price by income band shows how financial aid reshapes that headline figure: low-income families pay approximately $15,781, middle-income families pay around $22,998, and higher-income families pay approximately $27,193.
Azimuth ranks Azusa Pacific University #795 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Azusa Pacific University meets demonstrated financial need through a combination of need-based grants, merit scholarships, and federal aid programs. Families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile, and the university participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs.
The affordability rank reflects both the net-price structure and the debt load graduates carry: understanding how [net price and sticker price can differ substantially](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) helps families calibrate their planning. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $23,219, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $26,000; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at Azusa Pacific University's median four-year earnings of $71,925, median federal debt of $23,219 projects to a monthly payment of about $262 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Azusa Pacific University earn median 4-year earnings of $71,925, placing Azusa Pacific University in the 73.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $12,819 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Azusa Pacific University in the 89.9 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Azusa Pacific University #181 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 87.8 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures represent lifetime returns relative to CA's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $34,672, the state median earnings of working adults age 25–34 with only a high school credential.
The earnings pattern at Azusa Pacific University is anchored in Health and related applied fields. Nursing is the institution's highest aggregate-return major, combining cohort scale with strong four-year earnings.
Nursing is among the largest programs, graduating 615 students, with graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $118,549; Azimuth ranks Nursing #8 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). Psychology, General follows with 150 graduates earning $63,963, and Azimuth ranks Psychology, General #17 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Additional programs including Kinesiology and Business Administration round out the institution's degree output, with Business Administration graduates earning $78,900 and Azimuth ranking Business Administration #83 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The program mix reflects Azusa Pacific University's concentration in Business (10% of graduates), Arts (6%), and Social Sciences (2%), a distribution that shapes the institution's overall earnings profile and connects graduates to stable, in-demand career pathways.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
615 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
82 graduates
Political Science and Government
7 graduates
Psychology, General
150 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
22 graduates
Azusa Pacific University's program mix is anchored in health and human-services fields, a signature consistent with the institution's mission-driven identity and its location in Southern California's expansive healthcare labor market. Health professions account for 10% of degree output under the Business family, followed by Arts at 6% and Social Sciences at 2%.
Across 36 programs serving roughly 1,486 graduates annually, the institution's strongest financial outcomes cluster in clinical and applied health fields where regional employer demand is consistently high. Nursing demonstrates notable scale and earnings performance, with 615 graduates and median earnings of $118,549 four years after enrollment.
Azimuth ranks it #8 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting the strong demand for clinical nursing roles across California. Psychology, General follows with 150 graduates and median earnings of $63,963 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks it #17 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Together these two programs account for a substantial share of the institution's degree output and anchor its health-sector earnings profile. The highest-earning programs at Azusa Pacific University reinforce the health-sciences concentration.
Nursing leads with median earnings of $118,549 four years after enrollment — Azimuth ranks it #8 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions — followed by Business Administration at $78,900, ranked #83 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Psychology, General and General Studies round out the top earners, both reflecting direct-to-workforce pathways where graduates enter in-demand clinical or applied roles immediately after completing their degrees.
For context on how these fields align with national labor-market trends, see [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/).
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wentworth Institute Of Technology Similar quality tier (#15229 ranked) | MA | 91% | $82,721 | #15229 | Compare |
Saint Louis University Similar quality tier (#15231 ranked) | MO | 75% | $70,783 | #15231 | Compare |
Trinity College Similar quality tier (#15217 ranked) | CT | 29% | $90,779 | #15217 | Compare |
Wesleyan University Similar quality tier (#15207 ranked) | CT | 16% | $73,897 | #15207 | Compare |
Fresno Pacific University Similar quality tier in West (#15244 ranked) | CA | 64% | $58,896 | #15244 | Compare |
