Calumet College of Saint Joseph
Whiting, Indiana · Private Nonprofit
ROI Score: 29/100 · Poor Value
Calumet College of Saint Joseph posts an overall ROI score of 29 (Poor Value). The Catholic college in Whiting, Indiana charges $23,850 in tuition and an average net price of $22,451, for a four-year cost of roughly $89,804. The single biggest drag on the score is a 22.9% completion rate -- nearly four in five entering students do not finish. Repayment is also weak at 42.9% three-year, suggesting many borrowers stall out. Where Calumet does better is debt-to-earnings, sitting at a relatively healthy 0.538 (median debt $21,534 against $40,000 six-year median earnings). For students who actually graduate, the income trajectory is workable, and the standout Criminal Justice program drives much of that. But the institution-wide score punishes Calumet for losing so many enrolled students before degree. Payback for the cohort runs 19.2 years. The math works for completers in the right program; it does not work for the typical entering student.
The data raises concerns about Calumet College of Saint Joseph
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score29/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- 6-year graduation rate22.9% - Well below the 60% national average. Non-completion is the fastest route to negative ROI.
- Payback period19.2 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Calumet College of Saint Joseph
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $23,850/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $23,850/yr |
| Average net price | $22,451/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $89,804 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $46,945 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $40,000 |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,534 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $228 |
| Estimated payback period | 19.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 22.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 529 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Calumet College of Saint Joseph is $23,850/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $22,451/year, or roughly $89,804 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $21,381/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $24,970/year.
The median graduate leaves with $21,534 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $228 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $46,945 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.54 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $21,381 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $22,931 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $22,877 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $23,358 |
| $110,001+ | $24,970 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30K pay $21,381 net per year -- about $85K total. Pell-eligible students get only a modest discount versus higher brackets, suggesting institutional aid is thin. Against a $40,000 six-year median earnings figure, the math is workable only for completers. The 22.9% completion rate is the bigger risk than the cost.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48K-$110K) pay $22,877-$23,358 net per year -- nearly identical to the lowest income bracket. This is an unusual aid pattern that suggests Calumet's discount is functionally flat across income. Four-year total runs $91K-$93K. Workable only for criminal justice and other high-completion-payoff tracks.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families over $110K pay $24,970 net, which is close to sticker. Higher-income families have many better-completion alternatives in the region (Indiana University regional campuses, Saint Joseph's College legacy programs, regional publics). The financial fit case here is narrow.
Earnings by Major
Top 2 most popular majors at Calumet College of Saint Joseph with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $106,465 | B |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $46,551 | D |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice is the standout, earning a B grade with 65 graduates per cycle -- the largest program at Calumet. Graduates earn $55,587 one year out and an exceptional $106,465 at four years, against $23,856 median debt. The 0.429 debt-to-earnings ratio is well within healthy territory. The four-year earnings figure suggests significant pipeline into Illinois and Indiana law enforcement careers with strong pension and overtime profiles. For students who know they want this career and can complete, Calumet is genuinely a value path.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration pulls a D with 28 graduates. Earnings of $33,166 one year out and $46,551 at four years against $25,000 median debt produces a 0.754 debt-to-earnings ratio -- meaningfully worse than the Criminal Justice program. Students considering business should compare carefully to Purdue Northwest, IU Northwest, or other regional options where the same business credential carries less debt.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 33.8% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 42.9% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 41.7% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 52.9% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Enrollment | 529 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 51.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,093 |
Admission rate is not reported in current Scorecard data, nor are SAT or ACT mid-ranges. Calumet historically operates as an open-access institution serving non-traditional and working students from the Chicago south suburbs and Northwest Indiana. The absence of selectivity data tracks with the 22.9% completion rate -- low academic gatekeeping combined with a heavily working-adult enrollment pattern produces high attrition regardless of institutional quality.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
CampusROI peers include Anderson University (IN), Bethel University (IN), Bethel College (North Newton, KS), Paul Smith's College, and Beacon College. Anderson and Bethel-IN are Indiana faith-based privates with stronger completion economics and better ROI scores. Beacon College specifically serves students with learning differences and runs a different operating model. Paul Smith's specialty environmental focus offers an instructive contrast: niche-mission small privates can pull strong outcomes from focused programs but the overall institutional ROI ceiling is similar.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calumet College of Saint Joseph (this school) | 29 | $22,451 | $46,945 |
| Bethel University | 34 | $18,610 | $48,860 |
| Anderson University | 32 | $25,021 | $48,899 |
| Bethel College-North Newton | 30 | $32,917 | $49,898 |
| Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science | 30 | $26,683 | $46,145 |
| Beacon College | 27 | $53,517 | $29,420 |
Who Thrives Here
Calumet fits commuting students from Northwest Indiana and the Chicago south suburbs, particularly first-generation and working adults. Pell rate is 51.6% -- this is a high-need student body. Enrollment is small at 529. The fit case is strongest for criminal justice candidates pursuing law enforcement careers in the region; that pipeline has produced unusually strong earnings outcomes. For most other majors, students should consider whether they can realistically complete the credential.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Calumet College of Saint Joseph. With a net cost of $22,451 per year and median graduate earnings of only $46,945 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 19.2 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 22.9% graduation rate and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $21,534 against $46,945 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.