College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
Back to Colleges

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Winona, MN 1,073 Undergrads 67.1% Grad Rate
School Website|Financial Calculator
Share
Total Cost
$57,380
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$11,704
After Aid
Median Earnings
$72,502
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$11,704
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$72,502
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$58,170
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate67.1%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age25.4
Warning: High average starting age indicates non-traditional students with prior work experience, which may inflate the median earnings shown.
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients23.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time81.9%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS82.5%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
92.8%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

ROI Sensitivity Analysis
Assuming 4 Years to Graduation

This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.

Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$633k
+$166k
+$149k
Median Cost$12k/yr
+$591k
+$124k
+$106k
Full Cost$57k/yr
+$426k
-$40k
-$58k

ROI Efficiency Metrics
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
30
∞
Median Cost$12k/yr
34
253%
Full Cost$57k/yr
Never
-28%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).⚠️ Warning: The high average starting age or low completion rate may inflate the Median earnings and ROI shown.
  • Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
  • Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
  • NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.

Social Impact ROINew
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.

Donor Return39%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.

Taxpayer Return-51%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator, or for more sophisticated analysis, the Guided ROI Interview, with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$24,332
Earnings (4yr)
$73,887
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$117k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$84,852
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$188k
Median Debt
$18,749
Earnings (4yr)
$74,942
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$125k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$53,776
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
-$50k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$86,796
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
+$203k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$79,464
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
+$160k
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$34,228
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$214k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,842
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, Other
BachCIP: 1399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,113
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Engineering Physics
BachCIP: 1412
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,154
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $46,634
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$32,925
Natl Median: $61,027
Lifetime Value Added
-$208k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$74,642
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$123k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,283
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$14,165
Earnings (4yr)
$66,139
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
+$58k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,911
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$83,079
Natl Median: $68,069
Lifetime Value Added
+$187k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $48,597
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$14,550
Earnings (2yr)
$52,733
Natl Median: $85,294
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
International/Globalization Studies
BachCIP: 3020
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,972
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,278
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$24,125
Earnings (4yr)
$78,856
Natl Median: $86,176
Lifetime Value Added
+$155k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$15,332
Earnings (4yr)
$76,285
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$135k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,915
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$43,805
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$125k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$55,164
Natl Median: $63,560
Lifetime Value Added
-$39k
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$104,761
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$353k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$40,804
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$151k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,647
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,439
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$34,166
Earnings (4yr)
$84,590
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$84k
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management
MastCIP: 5010
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,685
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$34,166
Earnings (4yr)
$105,165
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$264k
Median Debt
$46,087
Earnings (4yr)
$64,118
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$96k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $114,420
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,444
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$195k
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$43,193
Earnings (4yr)
$73,874
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
-$10k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$20,407
Earnings (4yr)
$64,965
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
Education, Other
MastCIP: 1399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,348
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$22,944
Earnings (4yr)
$76,310
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
+$11k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$69,960
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$74,727
Natl Median: $79,784
Lifetime Value Added
-$16k
Median Debt
$40,193
Earnings (4yr)
$86,445
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$100k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,697
Natl Median: $58,524
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
Median Debt
$40,998
Earnings (4yr)
$84,744
Natl Median: $83,558
Lifetime Value Added
+$85k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $97,121
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$49,350
Earnings (4yr)
$58,266
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$150k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,122
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,515
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$81,234
Earnings (4yr)
$240,586
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$1416k
Median Debt
$32,371
Earnings (4yr)
$67,553
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,545
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$84k
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$65,171
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
-$87k

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,692
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,333
Earnings (4yr)
$99,345
Natl Median: $86,288
Lifetime Value Added
+$305k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,655
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,444
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $113,566
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$118,146
Earnings (4yr)
$89,093
Natl Median: $99,878
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
Median Debt
$53,760
Earnings (4yr)
$104,441
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
+$85k

Other Programs

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,560
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,452
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.

For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate decision moving forward. Note that the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.

Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.