Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Standish, Maine · Private Nonprofit · 83.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 56/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Saint Joseph's College of Maine scores 56 (Below Average Value) on the CampusROI scale - a small private Catholic college where the financial profile is mixed. The completion rate is 65.7%. Median debt of $27,000 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.635 indicate a significant debt burden relative to earnings. Net price of $27,555 reflects moderate aid discounting. The 83.0% repayment rate is a positive signal - graduates who complete do manage their debt reasonably well. Registered Nursing is the standout program: 54 graduates, $74,114 year-one, $84,796 at year four, B grade. Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment (4 graduates) earns a B+-grade with $74,266 year-one. Business Administration earns a C+ grade. Kinesiology earns a D grade (25 graduates, $35,341 year-one). The institution is small at 964 students and has a strong religious identity. The coastal Maine setting is a draw for students seeking a specific campus environment.
Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $44,420/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $44,420/yr |
| Average net price | $27,555/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $110,220 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $59,045 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $42,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 10.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 65.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 964 |
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: $44,420/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $27,555/year, or roughly $110,220 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 $20,728/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $32,613/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $27,000, which works out to about $286 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($42,500) and comes to 0.64, 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 | $20,728 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $20,376 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $24,886 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $28,819 |
| $110,001+ | $32,613 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families in the $0-$30,000 bracket pay $20,728 per year at SJC Maine. The $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $20,376. Low-income students in non-nursing programs face a particularly long payback period. Nursing students represent the most justifiable financial case at this income level.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $24,886 per year. The $75,001-$110,000 bracket pays $28,819. Middle-income families face limited institutional aid above the lowest income bands. Against $42,500 average earnings and a 10.4-year payback, the case for middle-income families depends heavily on program selection.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $32,613 per year at SJC Maine - roughly $130,000 over four years. Against average earnings of $42,500, this is a poor financial return at full pay.
Earnings by Major
Top 8 most popular majors at Saint Joseph's College of Maine with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $84,796 | B |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $53,842 | D |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $53,881 | C+ |
| Teacher Education | $42,792 | C |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $70,318 | C+ |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $41,584 | - |
| Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment | $95,515 | B+ |
| Marketing | $66,233 | C |
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
Registered Nursing is SJC Maine's clear high-ROI program: 54 graduates, $74,114 year-one, $84,796 at year four, B-grade ROI (debt-to-earnings 0.364) with median debt of $27,000. Against a net price of $27,555, the nursing return is adequate.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration earns 10 graduates, $53,238 year-one, $70,318 at year four, C+-grade (debt-to-earnings 0.507) with median debt of $27,000. The small graduate count limits statistical reliability.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology and Exercise Science earns 25 graduates, $35,341 year-one, $53,842 at year four, D-grade ROI (debt-to-earnings 0.764) with median debt of $27,000. Starting at $35k while carrying $27,000 in debt is a tight financial position. Kinesiology graduates entering physical therapy, coaching, or fitness careers face a long debt service horizon unless they pursue advanced degrees. Students should plan for the additional education cost if clinical physical therapy is the goal.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 80.3% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 83.0% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 82.3% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 83.1% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Saint Joseph's College of Maine’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 | 83.5% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 460-560 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 500-590 |
| Enrollment | 964 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 23.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,294 |
SJC Maine admits 83.5% of applicants - broadly accessible. SAT 460-560 Math and 500-590 Reading describe a mid-range academic profile. The small campus size means admissions is a personal process. Financial aid negotiations are typically possible at schools this size with significant merit scholarship programs. Students committed to nursing should investigate program-specific prerequisites carefully.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Joseph's College of Maine (this school) | 56 | $27,555 | $59,045 |
| Bates College | 82 | $29,351 | $69,498 |
| College of Our Lady of the Elms | 56 | $17,545 | $51,540 |
| Bryan College-Dayton | 54 | $20,614 | $54,434 |
| Centenary University | 53 | $20,503 | $53,726 |
| College of the Atlantic | 25 | $25,184 | $40,264 |
Who Thrives Here
Saint Joseph's admits 83.5% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 460-560 Math and 500-590 Reading. The Scorecard does not report ACT score ranges. At 964 students, the campus is very small and residential. Pell rate of 23.6% is moderate. Students considering SJC Maine should factor the small size, nursing program strength, and 65.7% completion rate into their decision. Nursing students represent the school's best financial value proposition.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Saint Joseph's College of Maine is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $27,555 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $59,045 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 10.4 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.
What it has going for it: high loan repayment success. What to keep an eye on: a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.64 (median across the schools we score: 0.61).
Median debt of $27,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $42,500 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.64. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Saint Joseph's College of Maine: Common Questions
Is Saint Joseph's College of Maine worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Saint Joseph's College of Maine scores 56/100 on our ROI scale. At $27,555 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $59,045 ten years after entry, so it takes about 10.4 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Saint Joseph's College of Maine 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 $27,555 a year, or roughly $110,220 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 Saint Joseph's College of Maine graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $59,045 ten years after enrolling, roughly $17,245 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 Saint Joseph's College of Maine?
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 10.4 years for Saint Joseph's College of Maine. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Saint Joseph's College of Maine graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $27,000, against average earnings of $42,500 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.64. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Saint Joseph's College of Maine?
The six-year graduation rate is 65.7%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
From CampusROI, when there is something worth acting on.
Rankings & Links
Guides & Tools
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.