Religious Education at Biola University

At $30,887 in first-year earnings against $25,454 in debt, Biola's Religious Education degree sits squarely in the middle of California's small cohort of similar programs—exactly at the state median for earnings. While this places the program in just the 12th percentile nationally, that comparison is somewhat misleading: California's nine religious education programs collectively appear to produce lower initial earnings than programs in other states, likely reflecting the state's higher cost of living and competitive ministry job market.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.82 means graduates can expect to owe roughly 10 months of their first year's salary, which is manageable if ministry or religious education remains their career path. However, these earnings are substantially below what typical college graduates earn, even in service-oriented fields. The first year's $30,887 translates to about $2,574 monthly before taxes—tight anywhere, but especially in Southern California.

For families considering this program, the financial calculation depends almost entirely on vocational certainty. If your child is committed to ministry work or religious education and Biola's faith community aligns with their values, the debt load isn't catastrophic. But if there's uncertainty about career direction, the limited earning potential and geographical constraints of religious education credentials create real risk. The moderate sample size suggests steady enrollment, indicating Biola successfully serves students with clear ministry callings—just ensure your child is among them.