College of Saint Mary
Omaha, Nebraska · Private Nonprofit · 44.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 59/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
College of Saint Mary (CSM) is a small private Catholic women's college in Omaha, NE, enrolling approximately 445 students. Sticker tuition of $24,510 and a net price of $16,590 reflect a modestly discounted private school price. CSM's ROI score of 59 (Below Average Value) reflects some genuine strengths. The data reports only two programs: Nursing (61 graduates) and Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions. Both are health-focused, reflecting CSM's deliberate specialization in healthcare education for women. Average six-year earnings of $41,400 and median ten-year of $54,338 are solid for a small institution. CSM's 38.8% Pell Grant rate confirms it serves a meaningful population of cost-sensitive students alongside its traditional Catholic college audience.
College of Saint Mary
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $24,510/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $24,510/yr |
| Average net price | $16,590/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $66,360 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $54,338 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $41,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,250 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $257 |
| Estimated payback period | 10.7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 60.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 445 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $24,510/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $16,590/year, or roughly $66,360 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $14,090/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $23,898/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $24,250, which works out to about $257 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($41,400) and comes to 0.59, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
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 | $14,090 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $12,713 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $9,320 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $15,242 |
| $110,001+ | $23,898 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Low-income students (under $30,000) pay $14,090 net at CSM. Four-year investment approaches $56,000. With average earnings of $41,400 at six years and a 10.7-year payback, the math works for nursing graduates (who clear $70,000 in year one) but is stretched for the institutional average. CSM's Catholic mission has historically supported generous institutional aid; students should maximize FAFSA and request institutional award reviews annually.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001 - $75,000 income bracket actually pays the lowest net price of any bracket at CSM: $9,320. This is the institution's strongest value window - four-year cost under $37,300 for a private college education in a major metro with strong healthcare placement. Middle-income families with daughters committed to nursing or therapeutic professions should investigate this price point as a potential best-case scenario.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Households above $110,000 pay $23,898 net - near the full sticker. High-income families choosing CSM are typically selecting it for its mission, campus culture, and women's college identity rather than on raw ROI metrics.
Earnings by Major
Top 2 most popular majors at College of Saint Mary with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $73,801 | C+ |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $64,401 | B |
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.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is the institution's core program and its primary ROI driver. Sixty-one graduates earn $72,738 at one year and $73,801 at four years - an unusually flat growth curve suggesting most graduates enter staff nursing roles in year one and progress to senior clinical or supervisory roles on longer timelines. Median debt of $37,668 and a 0.52 ratio earn a C+ grade. Omaha's health system expansion continues to absorb BSN graduates at competitive salaries.
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions projects $64,401 in four-year earnings with $28,000 median debt and a 0.44 ratio - a B grade. Graduate count is not reported, indicating a small or developing cohort. This program feeds physical therapy assistant, occupational therapy assistant, and allied rehabilitation roles. At CSM's net price and this earnings trajectory, the four-year ROI is respectable, particularly for students who use this as a stepping stone to graduate-level PT or OT programs.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 70.8% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 73.2% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 63.4% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 68.3% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How College of Saint Mary’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 44.6% |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 18-26 |
| Enrollment | 445 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 38.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,807 |
CSM admits 44.7% of applicants - meaningfully selective for a small Catholic women's college. ACT composite mid-range is 18 - 26 with no SAT data reported. The selectivity likely reflects nursing program capacity constraints more than institutional academic selectivity across all programs. Prospective nursing students should verify clinical placement availability and NCLEX first-time pass rates as key quality indicators beyond admission statistics.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
CSM's ROI score is 59. CSM's completion rate is 60.5%. Its nursing program is its clearest institutional strength.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| College of Saint Mary (this school) | 59 | $16,590 | $54,338 |
| Clarkson College | 71 | $19,241 | $64,876 |
| Soka University of America | 67 | $18,260 | $55,017 |
| Bellevue University | 65 | $17,550 | $61,289 |
| Judson University | 58 | $18,558 | $56,313 |
| Washington Adventist University | 55 | $18,526 | $64,249 |
Who Thrives Here
CSM suits women seeking a Catholic mission-aligned education with a strong health sciences focus in Omaha. Nursing students get the clearest ROI at CSM - the program is the institution's flagship, and the healthcare employer density in Omaha creates reliable placement. Students drawn to the women's college environment and its leadership development emphasis gain soft-skill benefits the earnings data doesn't fully capture. Those considering business, liberal arts, or STEM outside the health track should verify whether CSM's limited program range matches their goals.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for College of Saint Mary is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $16,590 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $54,338 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 10.7 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
Median debt of $24,250 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $41,400 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
College of Saint Mary: Common Questions
Is College of Saint Mary worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. College of Saint Mary scores 59/100 on our ROI scale. At $16,590 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $54,338 ten years after entry, so it takes about 10.7 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does College of Saint Mary cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $16,590 a year, or roughly $66,360 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do College of Saint Mary graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $54,338 ten years after enrolling, roughly $12,538 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off College of Saint Mary?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 10.7 years for College of Saint Mary. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do College of Saint Mary graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $24,250, against average earnings of $41,400 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at College of Saint Mary?
The six-year graduation rate is 60.5%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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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.