Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Grace Christian University #973 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $7,367 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Grace Christian University in the 28.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Grace Christian University #1147 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Grace Christian University's composite ranking reflects its ability to deliver strong outcomes at a competitive price point. Graduates see meaningful earnings advantages compared with similar students at comparable institutions, supported by the university's focus on career-aligned programs.
Grace Christian University is a private master's institution located in Wyoming, Michigan, that emphasizes theological education and faith-based formation. Azimuth ranks Grace Christian University #973 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university enrolls approximately 716 undergraduates, with 46.9% receiving Pell Grants and 51.7% identifying as first-generation college students. Retention stands at 65.2% and the six-year graduation rate is 51.0%. Where Grace Christian University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Grace Christian University #1147 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $7,367 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Grace Christian University in the 28.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's program portfolio centers on Theology, which shapes both the student experience and post-graduation career trajectories. This concentration reflects the university's distinctive mission and the career pathways available to graduates in faith-based and related professional fields. Access and affordability round out the composite profile. Grace Christian University sits in the 28.9 percentile for access and the 79.1 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Mobility outcomes place the institution in the 34.8 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. For students drawn to Grace Christian University's theological mission and community-centered approach, the combination of strong return on investment and faith-aligned programming offers a coherent path to meaningful work and financial stability.
Grace Christian University's published cost of attendance is $26,166. Net price by income band shows how financial aid reshapes that headline figure: low-income families pay approximately $9,538, middle-income families pay around $10,037, and higher-income families pay approximately $20,834. Azimuth ranks Grace Christian University #299 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. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $24,375, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $14,303; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures. Families should weigh any Parent PLUS obligations against need-based aid and non-loan financing alternatives before borrowing. For the typical graduate at Grace Christian University's median four-year earnings of $43,821, median federal debt of $24,375 projects to a monthly payment of about $275 under standard ten-year repayment. In a downside earnings scenario anchored on lower-earning program clusters, four-year earnings of $45,288 would tighten that monthly payment relative to income. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning and income-driven repayment options — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Grace Christian University is a strong fit for students seeking a faith-based education rooted in Theology within a small private college setting in MI. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $43,821, placing Grace Christian University in the 2.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These figures track MI's regional labor market and represent meaningful returns relative to the state's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $30,928. The institution enrolls a significant share of first-generation students — 51.7% are first-generation — within its intimate academic community. Published cost of attendance is $20,834, with typical federal student loan debt at graduation of $24,375. Fit depends on alignment with the institution's theological orientation and small-college environment. Students seeking this specific faith-based context will find a focused program mix where Theology represents 9% of degrees.
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
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Grace Christian 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.
Grace Christian University's published cost of attendance is $26,166. Net price by income band shows how financial aid reshapes that headline figure: low-income families pay approximately $9,538, middle-income families pay around $10,037, and higher-income families pay approximately $20,834.
Azimuth ranks Grace Christian University #299 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.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $24,375, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $14,303; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures. Families should weigh any Parent PLUS obligations against need-based aid and non-loan financing alternatives before borrowing.
For the typical graduate at Grace Christian University's median four-year earnings of $43,821, median federal debt of $24,375 projects to a monthly payment of about $275 under standard ten-year repayment. In a downside earnings scenario anchored on lower-earning program clusters, four-year earnings of $45,288 would tighten that monthly payment relative to income.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning and income-driven repayment options — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Religious Education
6 graduates
Human Services, General
22 graduates
Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries
24 graduates
Bible/Biblical Studies
10 graduates
Grace Christian University's program mix is anchored in theology and religious studies — a signature aligned with the institution's faith-based identity. Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries is the largest program with 24 graduates, followed by Human Services, General, Psychology, General, Interdisciplinary Studies, and Bible/Biblical Studies.
Across 7 total programs, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold. The highest-earning programs at Grace Christian University reflect the institution's applied-professional orientation within faith-based education.
Religious Education leads with median earnings of $52,314 four years after enrollment across 6 graduates, followed by Human Services, General with median earnings of $47,559 and Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries with median earnings of $45,288. These outcomes reflect the direct-to-workforce pathways that characterize applied business, education, and professional-service fields where graduates enter the labor market immediately after completion.
Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries, the institution's largest program, earns median 4-year earnings of $45,288, positioning it as both a high-enrollment and economically meaningful pathway. The concentration in Theology and related applied fields reflects Grace Christian University's positioning as a faith-based professional institution.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these program families align with labor-market demand in education, ministry, and related service sectors.
Graduates of Grace Christian University earn median 4-year earnings of $43,821, placing the institution in the 2.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $7,367 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Grace Christian University in the 28.1 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Grace Christian University #1147 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Grace Christian University's concentration in Theology.
Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries is the largest program with 24 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $45,288, representing 1.1x the national benchmark for the field. Human Services, General enrolls 22 graduates with median 4-year earnings of $47,559, at 1.0x the field benchmark.
Psychology, General and Interdisciplinary Studies round out the core program portfolio, each supporting graduates into stable career pathways aligned with the institution's mission-driven focus.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lakeland University Similar quality tier in Midwest (#29335 ranked) | WI | 86% | $55,961 | #29335 | Compare |
Rust College Similar quality tier (#29333 ranked) | MS | 49% | $32,275 | #29333 | Compare |
Muhlenberg College Similar quality tier (#29336 ranked) | PA | 72% | $69,107 | #29336 | Compare |
Bushnell University Similar quality tier (#29332 ranked) | OR | 67% | $53,623 | #29332 | Compare |
Northwood University Similar quality tier in Midwest (#29331 ranked) | MI | 65% | $63,075 | #29331 | Compare |