Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Moody Bible Institute #880 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $9,484 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 22.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Moody Bible Institute #1238 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Moody Bible Institute #880 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Moody Bible Institute is a private nonprofit institution in Chicago, IL, enrolling approximately 1,510 undergraduates. The institution serves a student body with 36.3% receiving Pell Grants and 28.1% identifying as first-generation college students. Retention stands at 83.9% and the six-year graduation rate is 62.3%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a specialized institution. Moody Bible Institute anchors its composite strength in return on investment. Azimuth ranks Moody Bible Institute #1238 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $9,484 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Moody Bible Institute in the 22.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance reflects the institution's focused mission in theology and religious studies, fields where graduates move into stable pastoral, educational, and nonprofit leadership roles with earnings that outperform expectations relative to comparable institutions. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Moody Bible Institute sits in the 35.0 percentile for access and the 70.9 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's specialized theological focus and smaller enrollment shape both its access profile and cost structure. Mobility outcomes, reflecting how well low-income and first-generation graduates advance economically, place Moody Bible Institute in the 61.5 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. For students called to ministry, education, or faith-based nonprofit work, Moody Bible Institute delivers measurable long-term financial returns despite the modest earnings typical of those career paths.
Moody Bible Institute's published cost of attendance is $34,327. Net price by income band reflects the institution's need-based aid structure: low-income families see a net price of approximately $21,293, middle-income families pay around $20,599, and higher-income families pay approximately $22,897. Azimuth ranks Moody Bible Institute #415 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary based on demonstrated financial need and institutional aid policies. Moody Bible Institute awards need-based financial aid to qualifying students through federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. The institution's aid structure prioritizes meeting demonstrated financial need for admitted students. Families apply using the FAFSA and complete the CSS Profile as part of the aid-determination process. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $18,149, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $13,226; 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 $46,905, median federal debt of $18,149 projects to a monthly payment of about $205 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Moody Bible Institute is a strong fit for students called to Christian ministry and theological education who want a private nonprofit college experience in Chicago, IL. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $46,905, placing Moody Bible Institute in the 8.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $9,484 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Moody Bible Institute in the 22.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 36.3% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 28.1% are first-generation — and delivers outcomes that place Moody Bible Institute in the 16.4 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Published cost of attendance is $22,897, and median federal debt at graduation is $18,149. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 82.7% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors theology and ministry-oriented fields over secular-professional ones. Students whose vocational calling aligns with those areas will find Moody Bible Institute's outcomes and aid package among the strongest in the country for theological education.
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 Moody Bible Institute 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.
Moody Bible Institute's published cost of attendance is $34,327. Net price by income band reflects the institution's need-based aid structure: low-income families see a net price of approximately $21,293, middle-income families pay around $20,599, and higher-income families pay approximately $22,897.
Azimuth ranks Moody Bible Institute #415 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary based on demonstrated financial need and institutional aid policies.
Moody Bible Institute awards need-based financial aid to qualifying students through federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. The institution's aid structure prioritizes meeting demonstrated financial need for admitted students.
Families apply using the FAFSA and complete the CSS Profile as part of the aid-determination process. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $18,149, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $13,226; 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 $46,905, median federal debt of $18,149 projects to a monthly payment of about $205 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 Moody Bible Institute earn median 4-year earnings of $46,905, placing Moody Bible Institute in the 8.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $9,484 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Moody Bible Institute in the 22.1 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Those figures represent lifetime returns relative to IL's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $32,990 — the state median earnings of working adults with only a high school credential. Azimuth ranks Moody Bible Institute #1238 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The earnings pattern reflects Moody Bible Institute's concentrated focus on Theology. Theological and Ministerial Studies is the largest program with 112 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $38,907, performing at 0.9× the national CIP-4 benchmark for the field.
The Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology program graduates 69 students earning $40,561 four years after enrollment, also outperforming the field benchmark at 1.0×. Bible/Biblical Studies and Theology and Religious Vocations, Other round out the core program portfolio, with Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries completing the top five by enrollment scale.
This specialized program mix — anchored in Theology — drives both the institution's distinctive earnings profile and its appeal to students pursuing careers in faith-based and ministry contexts.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Roberts Wesleyan University Similar quality tier (#29364 ranked) | NY | 71% | $55,031 | #29364 | Compare |
Queens University Of Charlotte Similar quality tier (#29362 ranked) | NC | 62% | $57,673 | #29362 | Compare |
Tiffin University Similar quality tier in Midwest (#29360 ranked) | OH | 80% | $35,942 | #29360 | Compare |
Virginia Union University Similar quality tier (#29358 ranked) | VA | 98% | $38,275 | #29358 | Compare |
Lycoming College Similar quality tier (#29357 ranked) | PA | 74% | $56,210 | #29357 | Compare |
Bible/Biblical Studies
68 graduates
Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries
58 graduates
Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology
69 graduates
Theological and Ministerial Studies
112 graduates
Religious Education
33 graduates
Moody Bible Institute concentrates its program portfolio in theology and religious studies, reflecting its identity as a faith-based institution. The largest programs by enrollment are Theological and Ministerial Studies with 112 graduates, followed by Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology with 69 graduates, Bible/Biblical Studies with 68 graduates, Theology and Religious Vocations, Other with 68 graduates, and Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries with 58 graduates.
Across 7 total programs, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, serving roughly 422 students annually. The institution's highest-earning programs reflect both its theological mission and applied professional pathways.
Bible/Biblical Studies leads with median earnings of $50,342 four years after enrollment, followed by Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries at $44,522, Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology at $40,561, Theological and Ministerial Studies at $38,907, and Religious Education at $36,770. This earnings distribution reflects the diversity of career pathways available to graduates, ranging from pastoral and ministry roles to education, counseling, and nonprofit leadership positions.
Many of Moody Bible Institute's programs are grad-school-dependent pathways where four-year earnings undercount lifetime trajectory, as a meaningful share of graduates continue to seminary, graduate divinity programs, or advanced professional study in counseling, education, or nonprofit administration. For students planning direct entry into the workforce, programs emphasizing applied skills in education, communications, and organizational leadership offer more immediate earnings visibility.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how faith-based and nonprofit-sector careers align with broader labor-market trends.
