Graduate earnings are in line with similar institutions.
What graduates earn 10 years after enrollment.
Annual salary at 10 years
Lower quartile earnings
Upper quartile earnings
How graduate earnings grow in the decade after enrollment.
CBU graduates demonstrate consistent earnings growth throughout the early career period, with median incomes progressing from $52,336 at six years to $58,531 at eight years and $61,504 at ten years after enrollment. This 17.5% growth between the six and ten-year marks indicates steady career advancement as graduates gain experience and skills.
How outcomes compare to similar institutions.
Graduate earnings align with peer institutions — outcomes are in line with similar schools.
Financial justification for the investment.
Healthy debt burden. Most graduates can manage $26,063 in debt with typical earnings.
CBU graduates carry median debt of $26,063, exceeding the peer median by $1,882 and ranking at the 19th percentile nationally for debt levels, indicating modestly below average performance on this measure. Debt levels span from $9,500 at the 25th percentile to $31,000 at the 75th percentile, showing variation in borrowing patterns among students.
California Baptist University excels at generating return on educational investment, ranking at the 75.1st percentile nationally for overall return performance. The university's standout strength lies in earnings beyond expectations, with graduates earning $15,389 more than predicted based on their academic preparation and demographics.
Approximately 26.4% of CBU graduates continue to graduate or professional study, based on program mix analysis with high confidence. This substantial...
Program mix explains much of the earnings story.
CBU's strongest return outcomes concentrate in health professions and business programs, with Adult Health Nurse/Nursing leading at $91,155 median earnings followed by Mechanical Engineering at $81,620. Accounting Technology demonstrates impressive returns at $77,916 despite smaller cohort sizes, while Business/Commerce General produces solid outcomes of $63,415 across a large 177-graduate cohort.
Health Services/Allied Health Sciences achieves exceptional value with $61,858 earnings and top national rankings. These programs drive CBU's overall return performance, though outcomes vary significantly with education programs showing more modest returns.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
Earnings distribution reveals significant variation in graduate outcomes, with the 75th percentile earning $88,303 compared to $34,450 at the 25th percentile. This 2.6:1 ratio reflects diverse career paths and program choices available at CBU, from higher-earning healthcare and business fields to more modest returns in education and social services.
