
Rocklin, CAprivate nonprofitwww.jessup.edu/
Admit rate has ranged 65%–78% over the last 5 years — notably volatile, though the latest figure above (93%) falls outside that window. 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.
William Jessup University is a small, evangelical Christian university in Rocklin, California, that operates less like a selective academic fortress and more like a hands-on, faith-based training ground. Its identity is built on a tight-knit, residential community where spiritual formation is woven into over 60 career-oriented majors, most notably business and psychology. With an admissions approach that is broadly accessible, Jessup prioritizes creating a supportive environment for students seeking a purposeful education grounded in Christian values, though its costs and post-graduate earnings reflect the challenges typical of smaller private institutions.
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
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
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.
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
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.
Jessup's admissions process is characterized by high accessibility, with an of 93%. The university describes its policy as 'selective admission' but explicitly states it does not set minimum GPA or standardized test score criteria for applicants. For the Fall 2022 cycle, data shows 1,289 applicants, with 1,203 admitted and 1,317 enrolled. The middle 50% SAT range for admitted students who submitted scores is 1041–1228. Jessup offers an Early Admission Decision option, promising a decision within two weeks of a student completing their admissions file. There is no available from Jessup itself to definitively state whether demonstrated interest is a considered factor in admissions decisions.
Jessup offers a practical, career-focused curriculum through more than 60 undergraduate and graduate programs, available in both traditional and online formats. The academic environment is notably intimate, with a student-faculty ratio of 9:1. The most popular majors cluster in applied fields: Business Administration and Management, Psychology, and Visual and Performing Arts. The School of Education provides a pathway to teaching credentials through a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies, which can be paired with a minor in Bible and theology, reflecting the institution's integration of faith and learning. The breadth of programs is designed to be 'career-ready,' emphasizing specializations that lead directly to the workforce.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s 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.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Compare on earnings: best colleges for Business · best colleges for Psychology · best colleges for Political Science
Life at Jessup is deliberately constructed around a close, residential Christian community. Approximately 39% of students live on campus in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing, with the remaining 61% living off-campus. The university frames campus life as 'more than just a place to sleep—it's a place to grow, laugh, and be fully known,' with a clear presentation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ at its core. The Student Life Office acts as a central hub for the student experience, handling activities, clubs, events, and even housing the campus bookstore and mail center. The dedicated Student Life team creates environments for 'spiritual formation, community engagement, and connection,' aiming to foster a sense of being 'cared for and accepted.'
Jessup's graduation rate is 56%. Post-graduation earnings data shows a median salary of $56,257 for graduates ten years after entry. Other sources cite a six-year post-graduation median salary of $43,163. A first-year retention rate of 77% indicates that the majority of students who start at Jessup choose to return for their sophomore year. These figures place the university's outcomes around or slightly above the midpoint for four-year colleges nationally, suggesting its career-oriented programs typical returns for graduates of small private institutions.
The average for students after grants and scholarships is $28,062. Financial aid is widely available, with 98% of full-time beginning undergraduates receiving some form of grant or scholarship aid, and the average aid package is reported to be $18,996. The university provides a Net Price Calculator for personalized estimates and directs students to state aid resources like the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC). The institution's consumer information and financial aid pages outline various options, including scholarships and grants, but the available sources do not indicate the presence of a 'no-loan' policy or a commitment to meet 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted students.
Jessup University carves out a distinct niche by unapologetically fusing evangelical Christian community with pragmatic, career-focused education. It’s not trying to be an intellectual seminary or a research powerhouse; it’s a training ground where faith informs vocation. The 9:1 student-faculty ratio guarantees a level of personal attention rare even among small colleges, creating an environment where students are meant to be 'fully known.' Its high reflects a mission of access, welcoming students who seek this specific blend of spiritual growth and professional preparation. The campus culture is intentionally curated—the Student Life Office isn't just an administrative center but the heart of a community designed for formation. For students seeking a close-knit, purpose-driven undergraduate experience where their major in business or psychology is explicitly connected to a broader Christian worldview, Jessup offers a singular, all-in package.