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Private nonprofit, 4-year

The Master’s University and Seminary

Santa Clarita, California · www.masters.edu

中文

Acceptance rate

84.0%

2025

Peer median 70.9%

Tuition per year

$39,020

$54,120 with room and board

Peer median $43,496

Undergraduates

1,908

Student-faculty ratio 13:1

Peer median 12 : 1

Graduation rate

67.4%

4-year; 6-year rate 73.3%

Peer median 54.8%

“Peers” are all 219 private national universities, the same comparison used in this page's data notes.

About

The Master's University and Seminary is a private, non-profit four-year institution located in Santa Clarita, California. Evaluated within the US News college ranking framework, the university operates with an interdenominational Christian religious affiliation, integrating faith-based values into both its academic curriculum and student community. The school encompasses undergraduate college education alongside an established seminary dedicated to pastoral studies and ministry leadership. Situated in northern Los Angeles County, the Santa Clarita campus provides a suburban residential environment within reach of the broader Southern California region. Academic life connects undergraduate liberal arts and pre-professional study with biblical foundations, while the seminary prepares students for specialized ministry vocations. For prospective applicants seeking an institution deeply rooted in historic evangelical Christian tradition, the university offers a close-knit campus culture centered on shared theological convictions, personal character development, and academic preparation.

Undergraduate tuition at The Master's University and Seminary was $39,020 in 2025, keeping its sticker price below the median for peer private comprehensive universities. Student completion outcomes show consistent academic progress. In 2025, the four-year graduation rate was 67.4%, while the six-year graduation rate reached 73.3%, reflecting reliable student persistence past four years. Institutional financial modeling from 2024 estimated that tuition revenue accounted for 41.8% of list price tuition. This metric is a university-wide estimate that reflects broad institutional financial aid, discounts, and graduate waivers; it does not indicate what any individual student actually pays, and international applicants should not use it to calculate their expected personal expenses. Overall, the university demonstrates solid completion rates for both four-year and extended degree tracks alongside an educational cost structure that compares favorably with many private peer universities across the United States.

This collegeRanked colleges nearby

Setting
Suburb of a large city
Nearest major city
Los Angeles, about 25 mi
Nearest international airport
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), about 30 mi
Santa Clarita, California
Academic calendar
Semester
Religious affiliation
Interdenominational
President
Mitch Hopewell (Provost)
Phone
6612593540
City
Santa Clarita, California
Address
21726 Placerita Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91321-1200

Rankings & Admission

Acceptance rate (%)

Peer median 70.9% · all 219 private national universities

Acceptance rate by gender, 2025

Men
80.8%
Women
87.1%

In 2020: men 67.2%, women 67.1%.

U.S. News National Universities · last 10 years
#264 #284 #304 #324 2023: #299 2024: #332 #332 2025: #296 2026: #273 #273 20232026

Best #273, lowest #332, latest #273 over the last ten years.

Data insights

Admission to The Master's University and Seminary is relatively accessible, yet admitted applicants show a strong commitment to enrolling. In the 2025 admissions cycle, the school recorded an acceptance rate of 84%, which is higher than 76% of peer private comprehensive universities. This indicates an open admissions process where most applicants gain entry. Once admitted, students matriculate at a rate well above typical private institutions: the yield rate reached 45.8%, placing the school higher than 85% of peer institutions. This suggests that applicants specifically target the institution and view it as a compelling fit for their educational plans. On national ranking tables, the university placed at rank 273 in 2026 in the US News rankings, showing steady improvement from rank 299 in 2023 despite a temporary dip in 2024. For prospective students, these patterns mean gaining acceptance is generally achievable, while the student body consists largely of classmates who deliberately selected this campus community.

Test Scores

SAT/ACT not considered, even if submitted IPEDS (US Department of Education) has no recent SAT/ACT data for admitted students here. GPA, course rigor, essays and activities matter more.

Data insights

The Master's University and Seminary operates under a test-blind admission policy, meaning standardized test scores are not considered during the evaluation process even if applicants submit them. Because test results play no part in admissions, prospective students do not need to target specific SAT or ACT benchmarks to gain entry. Before adopting this policy, testing figures among incoming students had declined over several cycles. In 2010, 77% of entering students submitted SAT scores, a figure that dropped to 51% by 2019. Similarly, ACT submissions decreased from 37% in 2010 down to 24% in 2019. With testing entirely excluded from admissions decisions, applicants should concentrate on maintaining a competitive high school grade point average, demonstrating sustained course rigor, and presenting strong personal qualifications across their broader application materials.

How Hard Is It to Get In

about 8 in 10

1,051 applicants in 2025, 84.0% admitted

883 admitted 168 not admitted Yield 45.8%

Degrees & Majors

Graduates in 2025 (first major)

Bachelor's32211 international (3.4%)
Master's1683 international (1.8%)
Doctoral250 international (0.0%)
Top 10 Bachelor's majors by graduates
Theology/Theological Studies
43
Business Administration and Management, General
41
General Studies
31
Exercise Science and Kinesiology
25
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
17
Marketing, Other
17
Communication, General
14
Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies
13
Bible/Biblical Studies
13
Music, General
12

U.S. studentsInternational

Popular graduate programs

  • Divinity/Ministry · Master's53 (0% international)
  • Pastoral Studies/Counseling · Doctoral25 (0% international)
  • Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries, Other · Master's24 (13% international)
  • Lay Ministry · Master's24 (0% international)
  • Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other · Master's20 (0% international)
  • Theology/Theological Studies · Master's19 (0% international)

Data insights

Academic offerings at The Master's University and Seminary are heavily concentrated in biblical studies, ministry, and basic professional disciplines. In 2025, the school conferred 322 bachelor degrees, with the top three majors accounting for 35.7% of all undergraduate completions. The largest undergraduate programs were Theology/Theological Studies, Business Administration and Management, General, and General Studies. At the graduate level, degrees are almost entirely centered on church leadership, led by Divinity/Ministry and Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries, Other. None of the university's academic majors appear on national ranking lists, meaning enrollment is driven by programmatic specialization rather than published rankings. Early career compensation varies noticeably by field: based on 2023 earnings data one year after graduation, alumni who completed Business Administration, Management and Operations earned a median of $53,562, while graduates in Theological and Ministerial Studies earned $46,919. For prospective applicants, the curriculum provides focused training in ministry and business, with graduate programs concentrating almost exclusively on pastoral preparation.

All majors, graduates and earnings IPEDS · College Scorecard

*Depends on whether majors have graduates in 2025 or not, Yes / No
**Move mouse on can check deitaled graudates number, click for major detailed information
***Due to privacy policy, graduate salaries are not shown for some majors that has few gradautes

Theology has 230 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMasterDoctor
Bible/Biblical Studies.-
Missions/Missionary Studies.-
Religious/Sacred Music.-
Theology/Theological Studies.$46,919-$69,234
Divinity/Ministry.$46,919-$69,234
Pastoral Studies/Counseling.-
Women's Ministry.-
Lay Ministry.-
Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries, Other.-
Businesshas 93 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMasterDoctor
Business Administration and Management, General.$53,562
Organizational Leadership.$53,562
Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other.$53,562
Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies.-
Marketing, Other.$40,237
Parks, recreation, leisure has 36 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMasterDoctor
Sport and Fitness Administration/Management.-
Exercise Science and Kinesiology.-
Liberal arts has 36 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMasterDoctor
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies.-
General Studies.-
Humanities/Humanistic Studies.-
Communication has 26 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMasterDoctor
Communication, General.-
Journalism.-
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication, Other.-
Publishing.-
Biologyhas 21 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMasterDoctor
Biology/Biological Sciences, General.-
Animal Physiology.-
Visual and Performing artshas 18 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMasterDoctor
Music, General.-
Music Technology.-
Music Management.-
Computer and information sciencehas 11 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMasterDoctor
Computer and Information Sciences, General.-
English has 7 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMasterDoctor
English Language and Literature, General.-
Educationhas 6 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMasterDoctor
Teacher Education, Multiple Levels.-
History has 6 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMasterDoctor
History, General.-
Multi/inerdisciplinary studies has 6 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMasterDoctor
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General.-
Social sciencehas 6 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMasterDoctor
Political Science and Government, General.-
Philosophy has 5 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMasterDoctor
Christian Studies.-
Engineeringhas 4 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMasterDoctor
Computer Engineering, General.-
Electrical and Electronics Engineering.-
Mathmatics and statistics has 2 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMasterDoctor
Mathematics, General.-
Physical scienceshas 1 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMasterDoctor
Paleontology.-
Natural resources has 1 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryUnderMasterDoctor
Environmental Science.-

Students

2,860 students in 2025 · Undergraduate men to women 53:47 · Freshman retention 84.7%

Undergraduate race and ethnicity (1,908)

White
1,113 · 58.3%
Hispanic
375 · 19.7%
Unknown
129 · 6.8%
Asian
127 · 6.7%
Two or more races
57 · 3.0%
Black
48 · 2.5%
International
37 · 1.9%

Data insights

The Master's University and Seminary serves an undergraduate and graduate student body characterized by predominant White and Hispanic representation alongside smaller minority cohorts. In the 2025 incoming freshman class, Asian students accounted for 22 individuals, representing 5.4% of first-year undergraduates. International students in the freshman cohort numbered 21, comprising 5.2% of entering first-year students. Beyond the first year, continuing undergraduate classes show lower international representation, while Asian students maintain steady participation across upperclassmen cohorts. The graduate division constitutes roughly a third of all students and is heavily male, with White and Hispanic students making up the largest groups, followed by modest numbers of Asian and international scholars. For incoming applicants, this demographic structure reflects an institution rooted primarily in domestic communities, where international and Asian students form distinct minority segments within both the undergraduate and seminary programs.

Undergraduate and graduate students at The Master's University and Seminary have distinctly different age profiles, separating the student body between traditional college learners and experienced adult professionals. In 2025, the undergraduate population was concentrated in traditional age brackets, with 33.2% of undergraduates aged 18 to 19 and 32.4% aged 20 to 21. Because of this distribution, undergraduate campus life primarily involves students transitioning directly from high school into their early twenties. In contrast, the graduate division serves a noticeably older population pursuing theological and professional study. The largest graduate group was aged 40 to 49, accounting for 25.6% of graduate enrollment, followed by students in their early thirties. This clear division indicates that undergraduate campus activities center on early-adulthood collegiate routines, whereas graduate degree programs accommodate mid-career individuals balancing advanced studies with established personal and ministry commitments.

International Students

International share over the last 10 years · gray line: median of all 219 private national universities

Undergraduates1.9%

37 in 2025 · 4.7% in 2016

0% 5% 10% 2016: 4.7%2017: 3.8%2018: 3.6%2019: 1.5%2020: 1.5%2021: 0.4%2022: 0.1%2023: 0.0%2024: 0.0%2025: 1.9%
2016Peer median 4.2%2025
Graduate students2.7%

26 in 2025 · 11.6% in 2016

0% 10% 20% 2016: 11.6%2017: 15.4%2018: 12.1%2019: 9.9%2020: 9.4%2021: 3.1%2022: 1.9%2023: 1.2%2024: 1.5%2025: 2.7%
2016Peer median 6.6%2025

Data insights

International enrollment at The Master's University and Seminary remains low and has trended downward across both undergraduate and graduate levels. In 2025, international students comprised 1.9% of the undergraduate student body, placing the university higher than 23% of peer private comprehensive universities. This undergraduate share reflects a notable decline over the past decade. Graduate international enrollment followed a similar downward path, dropping to 2.7% of all graduate students in 2025. Among 2025 degree recipients, international students represented a small minority across all academic levels. Undergraduate international graduates were concentrated in General Studies, Business Administration and Management, General, and Exercise Science, while primary programs like theology recorded no international completions. At the master's level, international representation was concentrated in Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries, Other, where international students made up 12.5% of graduates. For prospective international applicants, these patterns indicate a small peer community on campus, with international presence clustered in specific applied business, general, and pastoral counseling tracks.

Cost

2025 cost per year

$54,120

Undergraduate tuition
$39,020
Room and board
$15,100
Graduate tuition
$10,410
Tuition and room and board over time

Peer median tuition + room and board $57,550 · all 219 private national universities

Tuition rose 26% from 2016 to 2025; room and board rose 50%.

Finances · fiscal year 2024

Revenue$83.9M

Tuition and fees
$32.7M39.0%
Gifts and private grants
$30.6M36.4%
Auxiliary enterprises
$13.7M16.3%
Investment return
$5.4M6.4%
Government grants and contracts
$151K0.2%
Other
$1.4M1.7%

Expenses$62.0M

Instruction
$19.8M31.8%
Auxiliary enterprises
$14.2M22.9%
Student services
$11.9M19.2%
Institutional support
$7.7M12.4%
Academic support
$4.0M6.5%
Other
$4.4M7.1%

Average faculty salary · 2025 (9-month equivalent)

Dark gray ticks: median pay for the same rank at all 219 private national universities

All faculty
$72,745peers $84,198
Professor
$73,065peers $106,692
Associate professor
$83,158peers $88,236
Assistant professor
$71,568peers $76,983
Instructor
$65,961peers $63,233
Lecturer
$54,000peers $75,093

Campus Life

Athletics and varsity athletes NAIA · Other · Golden State Athletic Conference

Golden State Athletic Conference: basketball, baseball, cross country

2025
NAIA Division I MENWOMEN
Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)8666
Soccer3326
Baseball43-
Swimming2315
Volleyball2016
Basketball1618
Beach Volleyball-16
Golf105
2024
NAIA Division IMENWOMEN
Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)9361
Soccer3231
Swimming2318
Volleyball1719
Baseball28-
Basketball1513
Golf96
Beach Volleyball-14
2023
NAIA Division IMENWOMEN
Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)8680
Soccer3133
Volleyball1716
Baseball31-
Swimming1218
Basketball1513
Golf116
Beach Volleyball-12

Nearby & Safety

Ranked colleges nearby

Data insights

Families exploring higher education options in the region surrounding Santa Clarita can consider several established institutions within reasonable driving distance. Located 21.9 kilometers away, University of California-Los Angeles is a National University ranked 20th in the 2027 rankings. For students interested in a liberal arts education, Occidental College is situated 24.8 kilometers from campus and holds rank 38 among Liberal Arts Colleges. Additionally, Pepperdine University is a National University located 26.1 kilometers away, holding rank 80. Each of these nearby institutions offers different campus environments and educational missions, providing applicants with diverse alternatives across public and private university sectors in Southern California.

Campus safety · incidents per 1,000 students

Peer median 5.6 · all 219 private national universities

Incidents, 2023–2025

Liquor referrals
2
Motor vehicle theft
1
Arson
1

From the Clery Act campus safety reports schools file, covering on-campus, non-campus and public property.

Data insights

Campus safety records at The Master's University and Seminary reflect a low level of reported disciplinary and criminal activity. In 2025, the crime rate per 1,000 students stood at 0.4, having decreased over the long term from earlier years. Across the three-year period from 2023 to 2025, specific campus incident totals remained very low. Disciplinary referrals for liquor law violations were the most frequent category, totaling 2 incidents over those years. Criminal offenses during that same timeframe consisted of 1 motor vehicle theft and 1 incident of arson, with no other major offenses recorded. These figures indicate that security infractions and serious offenses are uncommon on campus grounds. For families and prospective students evaluating safety conditions, the data points to a quiet residential and learning environment with minimal disciplinary disruption.

Notable Alumni

Notable alumni of The Master’s University and Seminary include Francis Chan (Author, teacher and preacher), Ralph Drollinger (Pastor and former professional basketball player) and Mike Penberthy (Former NBA player, 2001 champion with the Lakers).

More alumni (2, by field)

Sports

  • Ryan Zamroz 1987–

    Former professional basketball player

  • Conner Menez 1995–

    Professional baseball pitcher

From Wikidata “educated at” records (including people who attended without graduating), ordered by the number of Wikipedia language editions. Degrees and years follow Wikidata and are left out where it has none.

Recent News at The Master’s University and Seminary

Summarized daily from the school's official news. Click "Source" for the original story.

4Updates in the past 12 months
Oct 22Latest update
Admissions & costMost common topic
  1. New program

    The Master's University is developing a Bachelor of Science in agribusiness, targeting a fall 2027 launch pending WSCUC approval and internal processes.

    Source: masters.edu
  2. Tuition & aid

    The Master's University offers five full-tuition Steadfast Scholarships for fall 2027 freshmen, with applications opening Nov. 1 and closing Jan. 1, 2027.

    Source: masters.edu
  3. Tuition & aid

    The Master's University opened fall 2027 applications; traditional undergraduate applicants admitted by Nov. 1 receive a $1,000 Early Admission Scholarship.

    Source: masters.edu
  4. Other

    The Master's University's Bachelor of Science programs in Computer, Electrical, and Mechanical Engineering received ABET Engineering Accreditation Commission accreditation, effective retroactively to October 2023.

    Source: masters.edu

References and Data Sources

Data from IPEDS (U.S. Department of Education), U.S. News, THE, QS, ARWU and Clery Act campus safety reports. Data insights are written by the Forward Pathway data team from public data.