Bible/Biblical Studies at Nelson University

Nelson University's Biblical Studies program sits in the lower tier of Texas options, landing at the 40th percentile statewide—about $2,000 below the state median of $35,938 and roughly $4,000 behind Dallas Baptist University. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.91, graduates carry about $31,000 in loans against first-year earnings of just under $34,000. That's manageable on paper, but tighter than ideal for a field where starting salaries cluster in the low-to-mid $30,000s. The positive: debt levels here are lower than 82% of similar programs nationally, which gives graduates more breathing room than they'd find at many competing schools.

The modest 6% earnings bump from year one to year four suggests this degree doesn't open doors to dramatically higher-paying roles over time. Since the sample size is small, these numbers could shift with more data, but the pattern aligns with typical ministry and nonprofit career trajectories. Half of students here receive Pell grants, meaning many families are already financially stretched.

For parents: this works if your child has a clear ministry calling and you've planned for a modest income trajectory. The debt is reasonable, but the below-state-average earnings mean you're paying close to full freight for outcomes that lag other Texas options. If finances are already tight, exploring Dallas Baptist or other higher-performing programs might stretch the same investment further.