
Springdale, ARprivate nonprofitecollege.edu/
Admit rate has ranged 48%–76% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Ecclesia College is a tiny, intensely Christian liberal arts school in rural Arkansas where spiritual formation is the curriculum's backbone. With fewer than 150 undergraduates, a 10:1 student-faculty ratio, and a work-learning model, it offers an intimate, low-cost alternative for students seeking biblical higher education—though its 17-28% graduation rate suggests the academic rigor may not match its devotional fervor.
Test-blind — scores not considered
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
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Outcomes & value
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Campus & location
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Ecclesia College is moderately selective, with reported Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. ranging from 47% to 74% across sources—likely reflecting fluctuations in applicant pools. Notably, standardized test scores are optional (though they may be used for scholarship consideration), and admitted students typically have ACT scores between 10-11 or SAT scores of 420-670. The college emphasizes accessibility for students committed to its Christian mission over strict academic benchmarks.
The college offers just 9 majors, with Business Administration and Management being the most popular (awarding about 9 degrees annually). Programs are structured around seven competency areas, including Biblical Worldview and Faith and Critical Thinking. The 10:1 student-faculty ratio enables close mentorship, but retention rates are low (41%), and only 17-28% of students graduate within six years—a red flag for academic support systems. Degrees are clustered in theology, leadership studies, and counseling, with a heavy emphasis on integrating faith into all disciplines.
With only 138 undergraduates, Ecclesia fosters an insular, family-like environment where daily life revolves around Christian community. Students live in Spartan housing (averaging $6,000/year) and participate in mandatory spiritual activities, including revival meetings and service projects. The rural Arkansas location limits off-campus entertainment, but the college compensates with intense relational bonding—faculty regularly mentor students outside class, and work-learning programs blend academics with practical labor. Recent years have seen a self-reported 'spiritual revival' on campus, with heightened emphasis on personal devotion.
Graduation rates are dismal—17-37% across sources, with men faring particularly poorly (28%). The college touts alumni who make 'mature, independent choices based on Christian faith,' but provides no employment data or salary metrics. Transfer-out rates suggest many students treat Ecclesia as a stepping stone; those who persist likely do so for non-career reasons, given the lack of professional program accreditation.
At $24,610 net price (after average aid), Ecclesia is among the cheapest private colleges—but students get what they pay for. Nearly all (97%) receive financial aid, with institutional grants averaging $4,991 and federal Pell Grants $6,781. The bare-bones campus keeps costs low: room/board is just $1,080, though 'other expenses' run $7,000. Work-learning programs offset some costs, but the low graduation rate raises questions about return on investment.
Ecclesia is a niche within a niche: a micro-college for evangelical Christians who prioritize spiritual intensity over academic prestige or career prep. Its singular focus on biblical worldview integration—even in business and psychology programs—makes it radically distinct from mainstream liberal arts schools. The work-learning model and rural isolation create a monastic atmosphere, appealing to students seeking total immersion in Christian community. But its financial fragility (tiny endowment, heavy reliance on aid) and abysmal graduation rates signal systemic challenges beneath the spiritual fervor.