Saint Johns University
Collegeville, Minnesota · Private Nonprofit · 90.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 83/100 · Strong Value
Saint John's University (SJU, Collegeville, MN -- the Benedictine men's college partnered with College of Saint Benedict) scores 83 (Strong Value). The score reflects a 5.8-year payback, $49,600 median 6-year earnings, 75.4% completion rate, and an extraordinary 92.0% three-year repayment rate -- one of the highest repayment rates for a private liberal arts college in this database. Sticker tuition is $55,816, but net price averages $25,672, reflecting SJU's deep discount and aid structure. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.544 is moderate at the median. SJU is small (1,395 students), admitting 90.6% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 438-593 Math and 503-635 Reading. The wide SAT range reflects an access-oriented admission philosophy for a faith-based private. Computer Science (26 graduates, B+, $69,964 year-one) and Accounting (59 graduates, B, $61,135 year-one) are the strongest Scorecard programs. Business Administration (77 graduates, C+) is the modal program. The 18.0% Pell grant rate is low. The rural central Minnesota location limits immediate labor market access, but the CSB/SJU network and Twin Cities proximity produce strong graduate outcomes.
Saint Johns University scores in the top 25% of all schools we track, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
Saint Johns University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $55,816/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $55,816/yr |
| Average net price | $25,672/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $102,688 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $76,786 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $49,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 5.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 75.4% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,395 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Saint Johns University is $55,816/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $25,672/year, or roughly $102,688 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $10,354/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $32,822/year.
The median graduate leaves with $27,000 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $286 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $76,786 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 | $10,354 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $9,715 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $16,196 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $22,913 |
| $110,001+ | $32,822 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $10,354 per year; the $30,001-48,000 bracket pays $9,715 -- the lowest net price tier, reflecting SJU's strong grant support at lower income levels. Over four years, roughly $38,000-$41,000. Against $49,600 median earnings and a 5.8-year payback, the financial case for lower-income students at SJU is genuinely strong. The 92% repayment rate confirms that graduates across income brackets service their debt successfully.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-75,000 bracket pays $16,196; the $75,001-110,000 bracket pays $22,913. The aid taper is significant but net prices remain competitive for a private liberal arts college at this quality level. Middle-income families targeting CS, accounting, or business find SJU's outcomes defensible at these prices.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families over $110,000 pay $32,822 per year -- roughly $131,000 over four years. At that price, SJU's Strong Value tier requires program discipline: CS and accounting graduates justify this investment; biology, international relations, and communication graduates at full pay face a harder financial case. High-income families who value the campus community and Benedictine intellectual tradition may find the non-financial value worth the premium.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Saint Johns University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $74,762 | C+ |
| Accounting | $80,872 | B |
| Biology | $71,560 | D |
| Computer Science | $101,188 | B+ |
| International Relations | $63,770 | F |
| Psychology | $56,446 | C+ |
| Economics | $80,461 | C+ |
| Communication and Media Studies | $40,423 | C |
| Natural Resources Conservation | $59,718 | - |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $67,607 | - |
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.
Computer Science
Computer Science (26 graduates) earns $69,964 year-one and $101,188 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio 0.349 (ROI grade B+). Median debt of $24,384. CS at SJU produces strong outcomes for a small Benedictine liberal arts institution -- the Twin Cities tech market absorbs graduates well. The year-four trajectory above $100k confirms strong career progression. B+ is the accurate assessment: good outcomes at private college pricing that is substantially reduced by aid.
Accounting
Accounting (59 graduates) earns $61,135 year-one and $80,872 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio 0.442 (ROI grade B). Median debt of $27,000. Accounting is the strongest conventional career track at SJU, with Twin Cities public accounting and corporate finance providing solid demand. The B grade reflects strong outcomes relative to private college debt.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (77 graduates -- SJU's largest program) earns $51,959 year-one and $74,762 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio 0.520 (ROI grade C+). Median debt of $27,000. C+ reflects adequate outcomes; $51k starting in the Twin Cities market is competitive for a small private liberal arts college. The SJU/CSB alumni network in Minnesota corporate culture is a meaningful asset that the Scorecard doesn't quantify.
Biology
Biology (31 graduates) earns $34,684 year-one and $71,560 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio 0.778 (ROI grade D). Median debt of $27,000. The D grade reflects the structural biology path: most biology graduates at small liberal arts colleges who don't immediately enter medical or graduate school face a difficult early career. The four-year jump to $71k indicates graduate or professional school completion in the cohort. Students planning medical school should factor the full cost of additional training into their financial model.
International Relations
International Relations (16 graduates) earns $20,939 year-one and $63,770 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio 1.289 (ROI grade F). The F grade reflects the severe year-one earnings gap: $20,939 against $27,000 debt is acutely difficult. The four-year trajectory to $64k suggests career development or graduate school completion. Students choosing international relations at SJU should plan for a financially difficult early career period and budget for possible additional credentials.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 88.2% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 92.0% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 90.6% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 94.1% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 90.6% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 438-593 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 503-635 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 21-27 |
| Enrollment | 1,395 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 18.0% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,973 |
SJU's 90.6% admission rate and wide SAT ranges reflect an access orientation. The test score spread of 438-593 Math is large -- this is not a credential-selecting school but a mission-selecting one. The 5.8-year payback and 92% repayment rate suggest that students who fit the campus culture and complete their degree typically achieve strong financial outcomes relative to their debt, even at a $55,816 sticker with aggressive discounting.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
SJU's peer set includes Augsburg University, Bethany Lutheran College, Linfield University, Immaculata University, and Saint Mary's College of California. Among Minnesota private liberal arts colleges, Saint John's 83 score is strong -- reflecting the combination of the CSB/SJU partnership depth, the alumni network, and the unusually high repayment rate. Augsburg is a Minneapolis urban comparable. Among the peer set, SJU's 92% repayment rate is exceptional and indicates graduate earnings strength that the six-year median alone understates.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Johns University (this school) | 83 | $25,672 | $76,786 |
| Linfield University | 84 | $26,536 | $78,638 |
| Saint Mary's College of California | 81 | $30,378 | $78,812 |
| Immaculata University | 79 | $24,258 | $75,701 |
| Augsburg University | 53 | $23,873 | $58,829 |
| Bethany Lutheran College | 35 | $20,148 | $46,110 |
Who Thrives Here
SJU admits 90.6% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 438-593 Math and 503-635 Reading, ACT 21-27. At 1,395 students (men's college), SJU offers a small Benedictine campus community in central Minnesota. Students drawn to SJU typically value the Catholic intellectual tradition, the CSB/SJU partnership academic program, and the cohesive campus community. The 92% repayment rate reflects a graduate population that earns enough to comfortably service their debt -- a signal of both alumni network strength and program quality that the modest earnings figures alone don't fully capture.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
Saint Johns University delivers above-average financial returns for its graduates. At a net cost of $25,672 per year ($102,688 over four years), graduates earn a median of $76,786 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback period at roughly 5.8 years - a solid return on the investment.
The data highlights several strengths: strong earnings premium over high school graduates, a 75.4% graduation rate, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $27,000 against $76,786 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.