Research.com
SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary logo

SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary

#1571 in US ranking El Dorado Hills, CA
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Programs:
4 years or more

Represent this school?

Update this profile on Research.com

Cost

Cost / year
$27,374
Tuition & fees
$4,800
Avg. aid
$5,208
Receiving aid
55%

Admissions

Acceptance rate
41%

Outcomes

Graduation rate
85%
Median salary
$32,815
1 yr after graduation

What are the graduation rates for students at SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary?

Reported 2024-25 completion measures for SUM require careful interpretation. The institutional profile lists an overall graduation rate of 85%, but it also reports a four-year rate of 10% and a six-year rate of 14%. Those figures should not be read as interchangeable estimates of the chance that a new bachelor's student will graduate.

Graduation measures can cover different entering cohorts, credentials, and time windows. The reported first-year retention rate is 64%, measuring continued enrollment rather than degree completion. Given the differences among the published figures and SUM's small first-year intake, applicants should ask which cohort and credential underlie a rate before using it to compare bachelor's programs.

What is the earning potential for graduates at SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary?

College Scorecard field-of-study information reports $25,693 in earnings for Bible/Biblical Studies one year after completion. This is a field-specific, time-specific observation, not a salary promised to every SUM graduate or an institution-wide earnings figure.

Earnings data can omit important context, including differences in occupation, work hours, location, further education, and unpaid or lower-paid ministry work. A one-year figure also says little about longer-term career progression. Applicants weighing borrowing against likely income should compare the amount they personally expect to finance with the work they intend to pursue, rather than treating this single number as a forecast.

SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary Graduation Rate

Avg. graduation
85%
4-year graduation
10%
6-year graduation
14%

SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary Retention and Employment

First-year retention, full-time students
64%
First-year retention, part-time students
75%
Employed 1 year after graduation
87%

SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary Median Alumni Salary Over Time

1 year after graduation
$32,815
4 years after graduation
$38,089
5 years after graduation
$39,930
7 years after graduation
$43,014
10 years after starting college
$41,407

Alumni Salary for SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary Degrees

Degrees

Avg. salary

Bible/Biblical Studies

$25,693

SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary Graduations Per Degree

BACHELOR’S Degree

Women Men Total

Theology and Religious Vocations

353166

MASTER’S Degree

Women Men Total

Theology and Religious Vocations

114152

Data last updated on November 5, 2026

Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026

Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.

Recently Published Articles