Heritage Christian University
Florence, AL 35630-9977
About Heritage Christian University
Heritage Christian University is a private research university in Florence, Alabama, enrolling about 75 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 90.00% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $42,597 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Heritage Christian University charges about 0.4× the national private non-profit median tuition ($11,982).
- Versus the Alabama median, sticker tuition is 20% above.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 66.67%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $42,597.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Heritage Christian University is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 590% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heritage Christian University | $11,982 | $15,426 | 1 |
| Private Non-profit (national median) | $29,325 | — | 1,444 |
| Alabama (state median) | $10,024 | $10,721 | 63 |
| Town (locale median) | $9,600 | $14,971 | 1,517 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is Heritage Christian University really?
Key findings
- Heritage Christian University charges about 0.4× the national private non-profit median tuition ($11,982).
- Versus the Alabama median, sticker tuition is 20% above.
Heritage Christian University tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $11,982
Finding Heritage Christian University charges about 0.4× the national private non-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $11,982. That is about 0.4× the national private non-profit median ($29,325). Versus the Alabama median ($10,024), sticker tuition is 20% above. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is 1% above.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to private non-profit and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Heritage Christian University versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Heritage Christian University versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Heritage Christian University is $15,426.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $15,426 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $4,705 above the Alabama median net price. Versus town campuses, net price runs $455 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway At Heritage Christian University, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
Heritage Christian University: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Heritage Christian University—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$11,982
Avg. net price
$15,426
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $30,001–$48,000 | $15,833 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $15,020 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $47,928. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Heritage Christian University is known for
Top program completions
- Bible/Biblical Studies15
- Divinity/Ministry13
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 100% of admitted students enrolled.
- Average SAT: 1020
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Heritage Christian University a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Heritage Christian University is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Heritage Christian University.
Campus
Location
Florence, AL
City / state
- ZIP
- 35630-9977
- NCES locale
- Town
Compared with Town campuses nationally, net price is 3% above the median for Town campuses ($14,971 median).
Control
Institution type
Private Non-profit
Control
- Region
- Southeast
- Carnegie
- Special Focus Four-Year: Other Health Professions Schools
Size
Enrollment
75
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 110
- Graduate
- 85
- Full-time share
- 40%
Student aid
Debt & aid
- Pell grant share
- 35.71%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Heritage Christian University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Heritage Christian University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Heritage Christian University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $9,792 | $9,792 | $9,346 |
| 2014 | $9,792 | $9,792 | $10,369 |
| 2015 | $9,792 | $9,792 | $11,194 |
| 2016 | $9,792 | $9,792 | $9,009 |
| 2017 | $11,232 | $11,232 | — |
| 2018 | $11,232 | $11,232 | — |
| 2019 | $11,532 | $11,532 | $9,990 |
| 2020 | $11,532 | $11,532 | — |
| 2021 | $11,632 | $11,632 | $4,856 |
| 2022 | $11,632 | $11,632 | $5,020 |
| 2023 | $11,982 | $11,982 | — |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Average 1020 (middle 50% not reported)
Scores for enrollees who submitted tests (College Scorecard).
Academic Requirements
Estimated from admission selectivity and test scores. Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
Estimated range · median 3.20
Estimated GPA band from selectivity and test scores — not an official requirement.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Heritage Christian University reported total enrollment of about 75 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 87% male and 13% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (85.3%), Black or African American (6.7%), and Hispanic or Latino (6.7%). About 35.71% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
40.0% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Heritage Christian University in 2024 is 75 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 110 students. Graduate enrollment is about 85 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
0.0%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
33.33% 100% Completion Time
66.67% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 33.33% of students graduating from Heritage Christian University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Bible/Biblical Studies: 87% male / 13% female
- Divinity/Ministry: 92% male / 8% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Heritage Christian University graduates earn a median of $42,597 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Heritage Christian University.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $42,597. Average net price used in cost models: $15,426.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Heritage Christian University graduates report median earnings of $42,597 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Heritage Christian University.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 2 programs by IPEDS completions (3 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Heritage Christian University.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Heritage Christian University graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Heritage Christian University—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$15M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Alabama median near the median ($14.3M)
- Southeast median 0.77× the median ($19.4M)
- U.S. median 0.57× the median ($26.4M)
- Alabama median 20× the median ($8,561)
- Southeast median 18× the median ($9,308)
- U.S. median 14× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 100.0%
- Alabama median 50.8 pp above median (49.2%)
- Southeast median 40.6 pp above median (59.4%)
- U.S. median 42.0 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $5,562
- Alabama median 0.74× the median ($7,502)
- Southeast median 0.81× the median ($6,825)
- U.S. median 0.73× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $8,836
- Alabama median 1.2× the median ($7,192)
- Southeast median 1.3× the median ($6,602)
- U.S. median 1.2× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Heritage Christian University at a glance
Heritage Christian University
Heritage Christian University is a private non-profit institution in Florence, AL, classified as Special Focus Four-Year: Other Health Professions Schools.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Bible/Biblical StudiesDivinity/Ministry
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian85.3%Black or African American6.7%Hispanic or Latino6.7%
Schools near Heritage Christian University
Other campuses in Florence, AL when available, plus nearby institutions in Alabama.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade F) within Alabama, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Heritage Christian University located?
Heritage Christian University is located in Florence, AL.
What is Heritage Christian University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Heritage Christian University is 90.0% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 6 applicants and 6 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Heritage Christian University's tuition?
Heritage Christian University tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $11,982 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $15,426 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Heritage Christian University cost?
Reported tuition is $11,982 and average net price is $15,426 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $7,561 annually.
What explains Heritage Christian University's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($15,426), completion (66.7% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($42,597). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Heritage Christian University?
Heritage Christian University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 110 students, White (85.3%), Black or African American (6.7%) in federal College Scorecard data.
What test scores do students need for Heritage Christian University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Heritage Christian University reports midpoint SAT about 1020.
What do graduates of Heritage Christian University earn?
Median earnings are N/A six years after entry and $42,597 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Heritage Christian University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 66.7% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
Is Heritage Christian University public or private?
Heritage Christian University is a private nonprofit institution located in Florence, AL.
Is Heritage Christian University an HBCU?
No. Heritage Christian University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Heritage Christian University a tribal college?
No. Heritage Christian University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.