Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks John Paul The Great Catholic University #1434 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $40,588, placing John Paul The Great Catholic University in the 1.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks John Paul The Great Catholic University #1248 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
John Paul The Great Catholic University's published cost of attendance is $52,367. Need-based aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $27,029, families in the lower-middle income band pay around $35,037, middle-income families pay about $31,236, upper-middle income families pay approximately $32,194, and higher-income families pay around $38,282. Azimuth ranks John Paul The Great Catholic University #1341 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,968, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $48,230; 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 $40,588, median federal debt of $26,968 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
John Paul The Great Catholic University is a good fit for students seeking a faith-based education focused on communication and media arts in Southern California. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $40,588, placing John Paul The Great Catholic University in the 1.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible students — 32.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants — and delivers completion rates of 46.4% for this cohort. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 79.6% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors communication and media arts fields over STEM or professional disciplines. Students whose interests align with those areas and who seek a faith-based education will find a focused program portfolio in Escondido, CA.
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.
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This is the John Paul The Great Catholic University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Azimuth ranks John Paul The Great Catholic University #1434 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private master's university in Escondido, California, John Paul The Great Catholic University enrolls roughly 286 undergraduates. The institution maintains a 85.1% freshman retention rate and a 63.9% six-year graduation rate, reflecting solid persistence and completion outcomes for its student body. John Paul The Great Catholic University performs strongest in return on investment. Azimuth ranks John Paul The Great Catholic University #1248 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $40,588, a figure that reflects the institution's focus on Communication and related fields where employers actively recruit. The earnings trajectory positions the institution competitively within its peer group and demonstrates meaningful financial returns for students who complete their degrees. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. John Paul The Great Catholic University sits in the 10.8 percentile for access and the 5.9 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. With 32.6% of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants, the institution serves a modest low-income enrollment relative to some peer institutions. Mobility outcomes place John Paul The Great Catholic University in the 52.0 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, indicating that graduate career trajectories and earnings mobility align with typical outcomes at comparable private institutions.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
John Paul The Great Catholic University's published cost of attendance is $52,367. Need-based aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $27,029, families in the lower-middle income band pay around $35,037, middle-income families pay about $31,236, upper-middle income families pay approximately $32,194, and higher-income families pay around $38,282.
Azimuth ranks John Paul The Great Catholic University #1341 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,968, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $48,230; 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 $40,588, median federal debt of $26,968 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 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 John Paul The Great Catholic University earn median 4-year earnings of $40,588, placing the institution in the 1.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks John Paul The Great Catholic University #1248 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The earnings profile reflects a student body concentrated in communication and media-related fields, where early-career outcomes vary based on specific career pathway choices within the broader discipline. The institution's program lineup is anchored by Communication, which represents the dominant academic focus.
Communication and Media Studies is the largest program with 48 graduates, followed by General Studies with 8 graduates and Business Administration with 7 graduates. These programs collectively shape the institution's earnings trajectory and career outcomes, with graduates moving into roles across media production, journalism, marketing, and related professional communication sectors.
The concentration in Communication means that individual major choice within this family — and the specific career pathway selected — significantly influences long-term financial outcomes for graduates.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Coker University Similar quality tier (#36211 ranked) | SC | 94% | $40,117 | #36211 | Compare |
Kansas City Art Institute Similar quality tier (#36221 ranked) | MO | 55% | $37,032 | #36221 | Compare |
Defiance College Similar quality tier (#36210 ranked) | OH | 48% | $49,351 | #36210 | Compare |
Edp University Of Puerto Rico-Manati Similar quality tier (#36209 ranked) | PR | 68% | $22,844 | #36209 | Compare |
Montreat College Similar quality tier (#36208 ranked) | NC | 69% | $45,151 | #36208 | Compare |
John Paul The Great Catholic University's program portfolio centers on communication and media-related fields, reflecting the institution's identity as a Catholic liberal arts university in Southern California. Communication and Media Studies is the largest program with 48 graduates, followed by General Studies with 8 graduates and Business Administration with 7 graduates.
Across 3 total programs serving roughly 63 students annually, the institution maintains a focused academic footprint anchored in Communication. The program-mix signature reflects John Paul The Great Catholic University's positioning as a values-oriented institution with particular strength in fields that emphasize storytelling, persuasion, and human connection.
Business represents 11% of the degree output, underscoring the centrality of these disciplines to the university's mission. This concentration aligns with the institution's Catholic identity and its location in a media-adjacent region, where employers in entertainment, nonprofit communications, and faith-based organizations actively recruit graduates.
The relatively compact program scale means that students benefit from close faculty-student relationships and targeted career mentorship within each major, rather than the anonymity of large research-university programs. Students in John Paul The Great Catholic University's dominant fields enter labor markets where outcomes depend heavily on portfolio quality, internship experience, and professional networks—factors that extend beyond four-year earnings data.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how communication and media fields align with national hiring trends and wage trajectories. For prospective students weighing John Paul The Great Catholic University against larger institutions with broader program portfolios, the trade-off is clear: a smaller, mission-aligned cohort with intensive mentorship versus the scale and specialization of major research universities.
