Elim Bible College

Elim offers a hyper-focused curriculum where biblical studies dominate—students take twice as many Bible credits as at typical Christian colleges. Degrees include:

• Associate in Biblical & Theological Studies
• 1-Year Spiritual Foundation Certificate
• Applied Ministry Certificate

There's no pretense of a liberal arts education here; even the business and psychology programs are ministry-oriented. The catalog is lean (just 3 fields of study), with every course tying back to vocational ministry preparation. Think of it as a trade school for pastors and missionaries.

Life at Elim revolves around intentional Christian community—think group meals, dorm prayers, and snowball fights between exegesis classes. The Facebook page promises 'fun activities in the sunshine or snow', though specifics are scarce. Housing is on-campus and no-frills, with communal dining reinforcing the seminary-like vibe. Unlike larger Christian colleges, there's no mention of athletics or Greek life; spiritual formation happens through weekly ministry experiences and mentoring, à la Moody Bible Institute's model.

Elim's 70% graduation rate (150% of expected time) outperforms many peer institutions, though federal data shows a 59% rate. Retention is middling—62.5% of freshmen return. The college doesn't publish salary data, but with most graduates entering ministry, earnings likely follow nonprofit scales. What Elim lacks in career-center resources, it makes up for in vocational certainty: every program funnels directly into church or missionary work.

Elim is unabashedly affordable, with 93% of students receiving aid. The average package totals $8,820, including:

• $6,525 federal grants
• $5,180 institutional grants

After aid, the net price?Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. drops to $10,516—cheaper than most community colleges. The financial aid page emphasizes 'higher education for a higher purpose', steering clear of ROI talk. No student leaves with six-figure debt, but few leave with marketable secular skills either.

Elim Bible College is the antithesis of the modern university—no gen-ed requirements, no climbing walls, no diversity statements. It's a boot camp for Pentecostal ministry, where every credit hour serves the Great Commission. The 100% acceptance rate?Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. and 70% graduation rate suggest a student body self-selected for devotion, not prestige. In an era of bloated tuition and existential crises, Elim offers cheap, certain purpose—if you want to preach.