Students at Ecclesia College benefit from earnings that exceed expectations, with graduates earning about $5,400 more than similar students at comparable institutions.
The college combines this positive earnings differential with strong loan repayment outcomes and a commitment to serving diverse student populations.
Ecclesia College is a small private nonprofit institution in Springdale, Arkansas, serving students who seek a close-knit, faith-centered educational experience. With over half of students receiving Pell Grants and nearly 47% being first-generation college students, the college provides access to higher education for many students who might not otherwise attend college. The institution maintains a strong commitment to serving diverse student populations, including a significant transfer student population of about 23%.
While Ecclesia College's graduates earn a median of $40,650 ten years after enrollment, which places the institution in the lower tier nationally for earnings outcomes, the college does provide some earnings advantage beyond what might be expected given its student profile. The institution's graduates earn about $5,400 more than similar students at comparable institutions, suggesting the college adds meaningful value to student outcomes despite modest absolute earnings levels.
As a small Christian college, Ecclesia emphasizes personal development, faith integration, and community building alongside academic preparation. The college's completion rates reflect the challenges many small institutions face, with about 37% of students completing their degrees within six years. For students who prioritize a supportive, values-based environment and personal attention over maximum financial returns, Ecclesia offers a distinctive educational pathway in Arkansas.
Ecclesia College's program offerings reflect its mission as a small Christian liberal arts institution, though specific program-level data is limited in the available information. The college's approach emphasizes broad-based education within a faith-integrated framework, preparing students for various career paths while maintaining focus on personal development and Christian values. Students benefit from small class sizes and personalized attention that can enhance learning outcomes across different fields of study.
The college's ability to generate positive earnings outcomes beyond expectations suggests that its educational approach, while not producing the highest absolute earnings, does provide meaningful value to students across its program offerings. This indicates that the institution's emphasis on personal development, faith integration, and close faculty-student relationships contributes to graduate success in ways that extend beyond traditional academic metrics.
For prospective students, the college's program mix should be evaluated in the context of its distinctive mission and educational philosophy. While specific program strengths are not detailed in the available data, the college's track record of exceeding earnings expectations suggests that students across various fields of study benefit from the institution's personalized, values-based educational approach.
Graduates of Ecclesia College earn a median of $40,650 ten years after enrollment, which places the institution on the lower end of the national earnings distribution. However, the college does provide meaningful value beyond what the numbers alone suggest. Students earn about $5,400 more than similar students at comparable institutions, indicating that Ecclesia adds genuine value to student outcomes despite the modest absolute earnings levels. This earnings advantage reflects the college's ability to support student development and career preparation within its faith-based educational framework.
The college's small size and personalized approach may contribute to this positive earnings differential, as students benefit from close faculty relationships and individualized attention that can translate into better career preparation and networking opportunities. While the absolute earnings levels are modest compared to larger research universities, the college's ability to exceed expectations for its student population demonstrates meaningful institutional effectiveness.
For students considering Ecclesia College, the financial return should be viewed in context of the institution's mission and student body. The college serves many first-generation and Pell-eligible students who might not otherwise attend college, and the positive earnings differential suggests that graduates do benefit financially from their educational investment, even if the absolute earnings levels remain modest by national standards.
Affordability at Ecclesia College varies significantly by family income level, with net prices ranging from about $21,791 for low-income families to $26,719 for higher-income families. Low-income students face annual costs that are somewhat below typical private college levels, while middle-income families pay around $24,160 per year. These net prices reflect the college's efforts to provide financial aid, particularly for students from lower-income backgrounds who make up over half of the student body.
The college's financial aid approach helps make private education accessible to many students who might not otherwise afford it. With over 53% of students receiving Pell Grants, Ecclesia demonstrates a commitment to serving economically diverse populations. The relatively modest difference between net prices across income bands suggests that the college works to keep education affordable across different family financial situations, though costs remain substantial for most families.
Debt levels at Ecclesia are generally manageable, with typical graduates carrying about $13,019 in federal student loan debt. Parent PLUS borrowing averages around $8,258, which is relatively modest compared to many private institutions. The college maintains a 0% federal loan default rate, indicating that graduates are generally able to manage their debt obligations successfully despite the modest earnings levels.
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