John Paul the Great Catholic University is a private nonprofit institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Escondido, California. It enrolls 286 students (a very small, intimate student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Academic CalendarQuarter
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Fair
54/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes58
Value9
Affordability29
Selectivity40
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 79.6%, John Paul the Great Catholic University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
79.6%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
975 – 1270
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
21 – 28
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether John Paul the Great Catholic University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
6.4 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending John Paul the Great Catholic University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $34,666 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$34,666
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
33%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
53%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$30,265
Room & Board (on-campus)
$9,868
Room & Board (off-campus)
$22,086
Books & Supplies
$1,900
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,097
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$7,413
Total Cost of Attendance
$52,367
Application fee: $50 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$27,029
$30,001 – $48,000
$35,037
$48,001 – $75,000
$31,236
$75,001 – $110,000
$32,194
Over $110,000
$38,282
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,66610%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$26,968Medianpercentile
$26,99975%percentile
$27,98590%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $22,670
↓ $4,298
No Pell $19,417
↓ $7,551
Female students $20,004
↓ $6,964
Male students $23,063
↓ $3,905
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($26,968), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
56% of full-time students who enrolled at John Paul the Great Catholic University graduate within six years, and 77% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
56%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
77%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered John Paul the Great Catholic University earn a median of $56,930 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$56,930
Earning > $25K
86%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
What this means:
Moderate return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$1.6 of median earnings 10 years out. Compare carefully against your funding plan.
Who Studies Here
John Paul the Great Catholic University is home to 286 students, an intimate, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
286
Part-Time
5%
First-Generation
—
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 38.5%110
White 37.4%107
Other 6.3%18
Asian 4.9%14
Black 3.9%11
International 2.5%7
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at John Paul the Great Catholic University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbEscondido, California
Housing
Strongly residential231 beds for 286 students
Adult Learners
9%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Quarterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
John Paul the Great Catholic University offers
a focused set of programs:
3 distinct programs across
3 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at John Paul the Great Catholic University is 14:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
14:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$5.4M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$68,438
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
8 instructional faculty across 1 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
8
100%
$68,438
Pros & Cons of John Paul the Great Catholic University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how John Paul the Great Catholic University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Tight-knit, close community feel
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Modest first-year retention
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Narrow program catalog compared to mid-sized peers
Best for:
Based on the data, John Paul the Great Catholic University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about John Paul the Great Catholic University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about John Paul the Great Catholic University.
Is John Paul the Great Catholic University hard to get into?
John Paul the Great Catholic University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 79.6%.
What is the acceptance rate at John Paul the Great Catholic University?
John Paul the Great Catholic University has an acceptance rate of 79.6%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for John Paul the Great Catholic University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at John Paul the Great Catholic University scored between 975 and 1270 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for John Paul the Great Catholic University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at John Paul the Great Catholic University scored between 21 and 28 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does John Paul the Great Catholic University cost?
The average net price after aid at John Paul the Great Catholic University is $34,666 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is John Paul the Great Catholic University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $56,930 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $34,666 per year. That's roughly 1.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is John Paul the Great Catholic University known for?
John Paul the Great Catholic University is best known for its programs in Communication & Media, Liberal Arts, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do John Paul the Great Catholic University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering John Paul the Great Catholic University are $56,930, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is John Paul the Great Catholic University accredited?
Yes. John Paul the Great Catholic University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.
How many students attend John Paul the Great Catholic University?
John Paul the Great Catholic University enrolls 286 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at John Paul the Great Catholic University?
John Paul the Great Catholic University graduates 56% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is John Paul the Great Catholic University a public or private college?
John Paul the Great Catholic University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is John Paul the Great Catholic University located?
John Paul the Great Catholic University is located in Escondido, California.
What programs does John Paul the Great Catholic University offer?
John Paul the Great Catholic University offers 3 distinct programs. The most popular include Communication & Media, Liberal Arts, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at John Paul the Great Catholic University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at John Paul the Great Catholic University is 14:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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