This is not a recommendation or a warning. It is the map of one part of the plan: the college. The other two—what your child wants and what your family can afford—are known only to you.
Who this school is and where it is located
The Master's University and Seminary is a private, nonprofit, four-year institution located in Santa Clarita, California, in Los Angeles County. It is within the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metropolitan area, but that does not mean the campus is in the middle of everything: the census code places it in a suburb, within the urbanized area but outside the principal city. What living there feels like is something you can only know by going to see it. If your child plans to live at home and commute every day, I recommend something simple: drive the route on a weekday, at the exact time they would have class. The real travel time is almost never what the map shows.
Carnegie, the system that classifies the nation’s colleges according to what they do, places it among doctoral and professional universities, within its doctoral institutions family. That family groups together very different categories, so by itself it does not tell you how much research your child will see in their first year. In its undergraduate profile, Carnegie also identifies it as a selective-admission, four-year, small, primarily residential school: with data from 2019-20, between 25 and 49 out of every 100 undergraduate students lived in institution-provided housing, and at least half studied full time. One useful detail if you are looking in older guides: between 2018 and 2021, Carnegie changed this school’s category, so if an older list describes it differently, that does not mean either one is wrong.
IPEDS, the federal government’s official database on colleges, classifies it as an institution awarding degrees, primarily bachelor’s degrees or higher, and reports the doctorate as the highest degree it offers. That is a general institutional fact: it does not tell you whether the specific program your child is interested in exists, or whether it connects undergraduate study with graduate study. That must be verified program by program.
And here is something that saves you time: The Master's University and Seminary is not listed as a historically Black college or university, a tribal college or university, or a land-grant institution. Of the 3,012 colleges in this directory, 138 have one of those three designations; this one has none. That does not say anything about the communities it serves today or how your child would feel there. Ask directly: what cultural centers and student organizations exist right now, and speak with someone who already studies there.
Do not rule it out or choose it based on the sticker price, which you will see later. Ask in writing how much your family would pay after scholarships and aid. That is the number that should actually be compared among colleges.
How many students there are and who they are
The Master's University and Seminary had 2,799 students enrolled in the official fall count: a medium-sized enrollment, within the 1,000 to 4,999 range, and among the most common sizes for similar private, selective-admission four-year schools. But that large number includes graduate students. The total is divided into 1,914 undergraduate students and 885 graduate students. If your child is starting a bachelor’s degree, the number that matters is 1,914, not the total of 2,799.
Out of every 100 undergraduate students, 20 reported being Hispanic or Latino in fall 2023. They are not a majority, but they are not unusual either: among 941 private, selective-admission four-year schools reporting this figure, that share places it in the top quarter. Three out of four schools in that group reported an equal or lower share. Keep this comparison in mind: peers are grouped by school type and control, not by state, and that matters greatly in a country where Latino representation varies so much from region to region. It also does not go down to the program level; it is for the entire school.
The rest of the picture: 22 out of every 100 students are between 25 and 64 years old, so this is not a campus made up exclusively of 18-year-olds. Men and women are nearly evenly split, with 48 out of every 100 being women. And slightly more than half of new students, 54 out of every 100, reported a permanent address in California when they applied for admission. The rest came from outside the state.
How the academic year is structured
The year is organized by semesters: two long terms, about 15 weeks each. That means consistent dates for everyone, without the accelerated pace of quarters.
The institution reported two ways for what your child has already learned to count for credit: it accepts AP exams, and it also accepts what IPEDS calls credit for life experience—independent study, noncredit adult courses, work experience, portfolios, licenses, prior certifications, or military or professional opportunities. It also reports accepting credit for military training. And it enrolls high school students in college-credit courses, both within and outside a formal dual-enrollment program.
Here is a hard truth I do not want to soften: saying they accept AP does not mean they award credit for every exam. We do not know what scores they require or how many credits they award, or whether those credits count toward your child’s specific major. Request the equivalency evaluation in writing before enrolling. Do not budget for the savings until you have it in hand.
As for degrees awarded: in the most recently reported year, the school awarded 243 bachelor’s degrees, distributed across 14 career families. The family awarding the most degrees was theology and religious vocations, with 28 out of every 100 degrees awarded that year—no other family surpassed it, but it does not account for the bulk of them either. It is a distributed offering, without one area concentrating 30 out of every 100 degrees. With counts this small, the total can move considerably from one year to the next. If you are interested in a particular program, request the past three years for that specific major; do not rely on a snapshot from one year.
As for class size: the official ratio is 14 students for every full-time-equivalent faculty member. It sounds low, and it is in absolute terms. But among 941 similar schools, that ratio places it in the quarter with the highest proportion. Both things are true at once: the number looks small on its own, and for the type of school it is, it is on the high side. That is why comparisons should be made with similar schools. And one important clarification: this ratio does not tell you the actual size of first-year classes. It is an institutional calculation, not a classroom count.
The institution also reports structured opportunities: study abroad, a complete program that can be completed only in the evenings or on weekends, and teacher-certification preparation pathways, including state approval for initial certification.
Getting in: what the application requires and how difficult it is
This is not an open-admission college. In its official report, The Master's University and Seminary identified six items as required for admission: the high school transcript, high school grade point average, completion of the course plan required by the college, the personal essay, letters of recommendation, and an English-proficiency exam for applicants who need one. It also considers, without requiring them, the student’s class rank, work experience, and whether someone in the family attended before.
About that last point: if your child does not have a relative who attended this school, do not spend energy worrying about it. Spend it on what is in their control: the essay, the letters, the transcript.
The published application fee is $40. And it is a lengthy application: there are several required pieces, and each one takes time; it cannot be put together in one night.
How selective is it in practice? In the 2023 cycle, the school received 1,157 first-year applications and offered admission to 878. That is 76 out of every 100—seven or eight out of every ten received a yes. Compared with 942 private, selective-admission four-year schools, that percentage falls in the middle of the table, slightly above the midpoint of the group. It is not a school with automatic admission, but it is not among the most difficult to enter either. Still, this number is from a single cycle, not a fixed rule of the institution. If more applicants apply in the year your child applies and the number of seats does not grow, the figure can decline. Check the number again for the exact year in which they apply.
One fact that may change how you think about preparation: the school reported that it does not consider SAT or ACT scores in the admission decision, even if applicants send them. This does not cover scholarships, course placement, or other possible uses of the test—ask about that separately if it matters to you.
Of those who receive a yes, how many ultimately enroll? In 2023, out of every 100 admitted first-year students, 47 enrolled here. The other 53 did not. Compared with similar schools, that share is on the high side—in most of those schools, a smaller share of admitted students enrolls. This number does not measure quality, prestige, or how happy people were when they left. It only counts how many chose to enroll that fall. When your child receives admission letters, this percentage should not make the decision for your family. Put the letters side by side and compare net price, the exact major, and distance—before deposit day.
As for transfers: of the cohort that entered in 2017 seeking a bachelor’s degree, only 8 out of every 100 transferred to another school without finishing here, within 150% of normal time. That is a low share compared with similar schools. On the other hand, in the fall 2023 count, 311 undergraduate students arrived here for the first time after having previously studied at another institution. If your child arrives through that route, one key fact: this arrival figure does not say how many courses they received credit for. Request that in writing, with the exact list of credits in hand, before they move.
The published cost and what is actually paid
At The Master's University and Seminary, among 16 first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid and whose EFC records showed family income below $30,000, the average net price was $31,026. Among 20 students from the same population with family EFC income from $48,001 to $75,000, it was $27,969; among 74 students with family EFC income above $110,000, it was $33,808. For dependent students, the range adds their parents’ income and their own.
Between the average for the lower-income band (16 students) and the average for the highest band (74 students), there is a difference of $2,782. Among first-year students who received any scholarship, the average was $33,463.
Among the 937 schools of the same type and control included in this census that reported this figure with the same time coverage, this school falls in the most expensive quarter for lower-income families. That does not mean it should be ruled out. It means you should request the aid letter before deciding.
An average does not tell us how different the cases within that range were; this information does not allow us to say that there were families far below or above the published figure. The income bands in this profile describe first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid; at public institutions, they use the in-state or district rate. The overall average for students with scholarships, when it appears, describes first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal, state, local, or institutional scholarships or grants.
Aid that reaches students, and aid that reaches fewer people
Out of every 100 degree-seeking students at this school, 78 received some scholarship or aid that does not have to be repaid. The average among those who received it was $17,574 for the year. Compared with similar schools, this share falls in the quarter where scholarships reach fewer students.
The Pell Grant—federal aid specifically for lower-income families—reached fewer people: 22 out of every 100. Aid overall reaches most students, but aid that depends on family income reaches a smaller share. The difference may come from federal aid that is not Pell, state, local, or institutional aid; this information does not allow us to know exactly what makes it up. Ask which programs make up that difference and what requirements each one has.
As for loans: 38 out of every 100 undergraduate students received a federal loan in academic year 2022-23. Of those who borrowed, each received an average of $6,410 that year. Compared with similar schools, this share of students with loans is on the low side—seven out of ten similar schools had a higher share.
Here is something I want to make clear: that percentage refers to other families, not yours. Which of the two groups—those with loans or those without—your child falls into is not decided by this number. It is decided by the financial-aid letter they receive in writing. And that average of $6,410 is for only one year, only for federal loans in the student’s name—it does not include Parent PLUS loans that parents sometimes sign for, bank debt, or credit cards. It is also not the total debt a student has upon graduating; for that, all years would have to be added together, and that number is not in this report.
The institution does offer one concrete way to manage payment: a tuition installment plan.
Life outside the classroom
The Master's University and Seminary has institution-controlled housing, with a reported maximum capacity of 869 students, on or off campus. It does not require all full-time, first-time students to live there—but that does not say whether a particular program or year does require it. It also offers meal plans, with a fixed number of meals per week in the largest plan. Having housing does not guarantee an available bed; request in writing this year’s rate, the application deadline, and whether there is guaranteed space or a waiting list.
As for ROTC: the school reported an opportunity for two branches, Army and Air Force. Navy was not marked. Appearing in the report does not mean the program is completed on this specific campus or that your child is automatically accepted—ask about openings, requirements, and exactly where it is completed.
In athletics, it competes at the intercollegiate level and is affiliated with the NAIA and the NCCAA. It reports membership for basketball, baseball, and cross-country or track and field. Membership belongs to the school, not your child: write directly to the coach of the sport they are interested in, ask whether there is space, which division they compete in, and whether that sport offers a scholarship.
As for distance learning: the school does offer online education, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. In the fall count, 34 out of every 100 undergraduate students took all their classes at a distance—a high share compared with similar schools. But this number covers all undergraduate study together, not your child’s specific major. One major may be almost entirely online while the next one is almost entirely in person.
The library operates with paid staff, and its annual spending exceeded the $100,000 threshold recorded by the government. It has physical and digital collections and interlibrary loan. Exceeding that threshold does not guarantee that the specific databases for your child’s major exist—that must be asked by major name.
Finally, the institution reports combined academic and career counseling services, employment services for current students, placement services for graduates, participation in the Yellow Ribbon program for veterans, a dedicated point of contact for veterans and military families, and a web address for disability services.
Those who stay and those who finish
Here we reach the numbers that answer the most questions and raise the most questions.
Of the cohort that entered in fall 2022 seeking a full-time bachelor’s degree, 296 students formed the cohort and 252 met the official retention criterion: 85 out of every 100 were still enrolled there or had already completed a bachelor’s degree one year later. Compared with 930 similar schools, this share is in the upper part—it retained more of its cohort than most similar schools. But a high retention number combines two different groups: those still enrolled and those already graduated. The source does not separate those two branches.
Now, graduation. IPEDS tracked 160 students who started a bachelor’s degree in 2017, full time and for the first time. After six years, 102 had graduated here: 64 out of every 100. After four years, the figure drops to 44 out of every 100—twenty points lower. And four years is exactly the time frame most families budget for.
It is worth seeing the complete breakdown of those 160 students at the six-year cutoff: 102 completed a bachelor’s degree here; zero completed a program of less than four years; 12 transferred without completing here; 4 remained enrolled without completing; and 42 fell into the federal “no longer enrolled” category. That last category does not state the reason, and it may include those who completed after the 150% normal-time deadline at another institution. Compared with 920 similar schools, this six-year graduation rate is above the group median.
Before signing any commitment, request in writing how long the specific program your child is interested in usually actually takes, how required courses are scheduled, and how the total cost changes if it takes more than four years. The gap between the fourth and sixth year is almost always paid in money, not just time.
Finally, the longer view: of a cohort of 511 undergraduate students who entered between July 2015 and June 2016—combining first-time students and those who already had previous experience, full-time and part-time—by the August 2023 cutoff, eight years later, 63 out of every 100 had a degree or certificate from this school. Among those who received a Pell Grant, the figure was 65 out of every 100—very similar, with only 2 points of difference from those who did not receive one. Compared with 935 similar schools, this share is also above the median.
And the rest? 8 out of every 100 are listed as having no credential and not having enrolled elsewhere, although this figure has an inconsistency in its definition that does not allow us to state precisely how many were still enrolled exactly at the cutoff. And 29 out of every 100—148 of the 511 people—had an “unknown” enrollment status: the report simply could not determine whether they were still studying somewhere. Unknown does not mean they stopped studying; it only means the trail was lost for purposes of this report.
What this information cannot tell you
Everything you have just read describes the entire institution, in specific periods, with specific denominators. No institutional average predicts what will happen to your particular child. The graduation rate of 64 out of every 100 does not say whether your child will be among those who graduate on time or those who take longer. The average net price is not the price your family will receive in the letter. And several pieces of information—how good the library is for the exact major, whether there is a scholarship in the sports team they are interested in, whether ROTC is completed on this campus—simply do not live in these data. They live in a phone call, an email, or a visit.
How to use all of this
Now you know one of the pieces you need to decide in depth. You know how selective it is in practice, what it costs on paper and what families with different incomes tend to pay, how many stay and how many graduate, and what specific questions you still need to ask the school directly.
This piece is the college. The other two belong to you and your child: what they want to study and what they have built so far, and what your family can and is willing to pay. No data sheet, no matter how complete, can write those two for you.
If your child is already building a college list, ask what they want to study and how far away they imagine living while doing it. If you are about to decide among several admission letters, put the net price for each one side by side before deposit day. And if something you read here does not match what the school tells you by phone, ask for it in writing. An official fact and a verbal promise do not always say the same thing.
You are not alone in this, and you do not have to solve everything in one afternoon. You have the map for one part of the journey. You will build the rest together.
Source note: the numerical information in this article comes from IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) and from institutional reports to the United States Department of Education, for the different years and cycles indicated in the text. Best College Aid does not represent The Master's University and Seminary or any government agency; this article does not replace direct verification with the institution’s admissions and financial-aid office.