Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks California Baptist University #443 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $68,600, placing California Baptist University in the 72.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. California Baptist University sits in the 90.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates outperforming similar students at comparable institutions. California Baptist University's composite ranking reflects a health-focused program mix that delivers strong graduate earnings relative to cost, placing the university among the better-performing private nonprofit institutions in the Azimuth coverage set. Median earnings four years after enrollment and earnings beyond expectations together signal that graduates — many entering nursing, allied health, and related fields — achieve financial outcomes that hold up well against peers at comparable private institutions.
Azimuth ranks California Baptist University #443 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university located in Riverside, CA, California Baptist University enrolls roughly 8,179 undergraduates. Retention stands at 74.4% and the six-year graduation rate is 61.9%, reflecting solid degree-completion outcomes for a broad-access institution. The composite is anchored by return on investment. Azimuth ranks California Baptist University #373 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median four-year earnings of $68,600, and they earn about $13,267 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing California Baptist University in the 90.5 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 comparable institutions. Access and affordability shape the composite's lower pillars. California Baptist University admits about 84.9% of applicants, with 42.1% of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants and 41.6% identifying as first-generation college students. The institution sits in the 79.9 percentile for access and the 20.6 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting the cost structure typical of private nonprofit institutions at this size and Carnegie tier. Mobility sits in the 73.3 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, supported by the institution's health-focused program mix and the durable career pathways those fields provide.
California Baptist University's published cost of attendance is $54,038. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $22,298, middle-income families pay around $22,620, and higher-income families pay approximately $33,971. Azimuth ranks California Baptist University #1131 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. California Baptist University participates in federal need-based aid programs including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, supplemented by institutional scholarships. The difference between sticker price and net price reflects the institution's aid structure; net price and sticker price can differ substantially, and understanding that gap is essential when comparing affordability across institutions. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,063, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $31,387; 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 the institution's median four-year earnings of $68,600, median federal debt of $26,063 projects to a monthly payment of about $294 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
California Baptist University is a strong fit for students drawn to health professions, nursing, and applied fields who want a faith-affiliated private nonprofit university in Riverside, CA, with a program portfolio built around career-ready outcomes. Graduates earn in the 72.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and California Baptist University sits in the 90.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — graduates earn about $13,267 more than similar students at comparable institutions, a meaningful signal for students whose primary goal is a reliable return on their degree investment. The access picture is notable: 42.1% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 41.6% are first-generation students, and the institution's completion record for Pell-eligible students — 55.5% — reflects a genuine commitment to seeing those students through to graduation. Median debt at graduation is $26,063, a figure worth weighing against expected earnings when modeling long-term affordability. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the dominant program concentration in Health means students outside health-oriented fields will find a narrower set of high-return pathways, and the faith-based mission shapes campus culture in ways that matter for some students more than others.
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 California Baptist University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of San Diego Similar quality tier in West (#13033 ranked) | CA | 52% | $86,522 | #13033 | Compare |
Lafayette College Similar quality tier (#15115 ranked) | PA | 31% | $91,410 | #15115 | Compare |
Seton Hall University Similar quality tier (#15123 ranked) | NJ | 73% | $70,196 | #15123 | Compare |
Stevens Institute Of Technology Similar quality tier (#15127 ranked) | NJ | 48% | $108,772 | #15127 | Compare |
Marquette University Similar quality tier (#11988 ranked) | WI | 81% | $78,257 | #11988 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
California Baptist University's published cost of attendance is $54,038. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $22,298, middle-income families pay around $22,620, and higher-income families pay approximately $33,971.
Azimuth ranks California Baptist University #1131 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.
California Baptist University participates in federal need-based aid programs including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, supplemented by institutional scholarships. The difference between sticker price and net price reflects the institution's aid structure; [net price and sticker price can differ substantially](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/), and understanding that gap is essential when comparing affordability across institutions.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,063, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $31,387; 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 the institution's median four-year earnings of $68,600, median federal debt of $26,063 projects to a monthly payment of about $294 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 California Baptist University earn median 4-year earnings of $68,600, placing California Baptist University in the 72.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $13,267 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing California Baptist University in the 90.5 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks California Baptist University #373 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's dominant program concentration in Health shapes much of this earnings profile, channeling a large share of graduates into fields where regional employer demand in CA remains steady.
The program lineup reflects that health-oriented concentration. Nursing stands out as the program combining the broadest graduate cohort with strong earnings outcomes, anchoring the institution's return story.
Psychology, General, with 169 graduates, delivers median earnings of $61,103 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks the program #48 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/). Nursing and Business/Commerce, General follow as substantial programs, with 168 and 160 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $108,157 and $68,936, respectively.
Among the highest-earning programs at California Baptist University, Kinesiology and Teacher Education post median 4-year earnings of $60,816 and $41,749, reflecting the salary upside available in specialized health and professional fields. The Business family accounts for 14% of degree output, with Engineering at 6% and Arts at 6%, a distribution that concentrates graduates in fields with relatively predictable hiring pipelines.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
168 graduates
Mechanical Engineering
47 graduates
Computer Engineering
13 graduates
Computer and Information Sciences, General
11 graduates
Civil Engineering
28 graduates
California Baptist University's program mix is anchored in health and applied professional fields — a signature that reflects the institution's identity as a faith-based university with deep roots in nursing, education, and human services. Health programs account for 14% of graduates, followed by Engineering at 6% and Arts at 6%, creating a portfolio concentrated in fields with stable, direct-to-workforce career pathways.
Across 60 programs, 33 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, serving roughly 1,943 graduates annually. Nursing stands out as the program combining high enrollment scale with strong four-year earnings, making it a central driver of California Baptist University's overall financial outcomes.
Among the most popular programs, Psychology, General program graduates 169 students with median earnings of $61,103 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks it #48 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Nursing and Business/Commerce, General round out the high-enrollment tier, each channeling graduates into stable, in-demand roles in health and human services fields.
The institution's highest-earning programs reflect the labor-market strength of clinical and applied health fields. The Nursing program graduates 168 students with median earnings of $108,157 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks it #69 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Business/Commerce, General and Communication Disorders Sciences and Services follow with median earnings of $68,936 and $67,621 respectively — programs that feed directly into California's high-demand healthcare labor market. For context on how these fields align with national workforce trends, see [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/).
