Saint Michael's College
Colchester, Vermont · Private Nonprofit · 84.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 63/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Saint Michael's College scores 63 (Fair Value) on the CampusROI scale. The repayment rate of 89.7% at three years is exceptional and the completion rate of 72.8% is solid. These two metrics indicate that graduates who finish are managing their finances well. The weaker metrics are the payback period (9.2 years) and debt-to-earnings ratio (0.650), reflecting that $51,450 in sticker tuition drives up debt even after the $25,239 net price. Average 6-year earnings of $41,400 against $26,922 in median debt produce the 9.2-year payback. Business Administration (57 graduates, $51,126 year-one, ROI grade C+) is the largest program and the strongest financial performer. Accounting (10 graduates, $56,723 year-one, ROI grade C+) is the top earner by year one. Economics (12 graduates, $47,211 year-one, ROI grade C+) and Teacher Education (11 graduates, $45,489 year-one, ROI grade C) are the remaining programs with C+ or better grades. Psychology (53 graduates), Biology (31 graduates), International Relations (17 graduates), and Communication (10 graduates) all carry D ROI grades, indicating significant debt relative to earnings for nearly half the graduating cohort.
Saint Michael's College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $51,450/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $51,450/yr |
| Average net price | $25,239/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $100,956 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $61,317 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $41,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,922 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $285 |
| Estimated payback period | 9.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 72.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,092 |
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: $51,450/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $25,239/year, or roughly $100,956 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 $12,825/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $34,539/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $26,922, which works out to about $285 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 0.65, 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 | $12,825 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $9,940 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $18,384 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $26,586 |
| $110,001+ | $34,539 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 bracket pays $12,825 per year - the lowest net price in Saint Michael's income schedule and a meaningful signal of institutional commitment to access. Four-year cost is around $51,300 against $41,400 average earnings and a 9.2-year payback. Low-income students who complete and enter business or accounting have the best financial outcomes; those in humanities or social sciences at $51k total cost face a tighter equation.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $18,384, and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $26,586. The specific program matters more than the institutional average.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $34,539 per year. Four-year cost around $138,000 is expensive for this earnings profile. Full-pay attendance at Saint Michael's is financially justifiable only for specific programs (business, accounting, economics) with clear career tracks. Generic liberal arts enrollment at full pay produces a poor return on investment based on the Scorecard data.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Saint Michael's College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $73,566 | C+ |
| Psychology | $52,589 | D |
| Biology | $64,203 | D |
| International Relations | $56,954 | D |
| Natural Resources Conservation | $46,755 | D |
| History | $47,689 | - |
| Economics | $82,447 | C+ |
| Teacher Education | $54,308 | C |
| Accounting | $56,723 | C+ |
| Communication and Media Studies | $59,313 | 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.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is Saint Michael's largest program: 57 graduates, $51,126 year-one, $73,566 at year four, C+ ROI grade, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.527 with $26,950 median debt. Starting at $51k with $27k in debt is a workable but not strong financial outcome at private-school prices. The four-year trajectory to $73k is reasonable.
Accounting
Accounting shows $56,723 year-one for 10 graduates, with a C+ ROI grade and debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.458 with $26,000 median debt. Scorecard does not report year-four earnings for this program. Accounting graduates from Saint Michael's enter regional public accounting and finance roles; the small cohort size limits statistical confidence but the trajectory is credible.
Economics
Economics shows 12 graduates with $47,211 year-one and $82,447 at year four, C+ ROI grade, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.519 with $24,500 median debt. The four-year trajectory from $47k to $82k suggests a significant portion of economics graduates proceed to finance, consulting, or graduate programs in the years following graduation.
Psychology
Psychology is Saint Michael's most popular program at 53 graduates but carries a D ROI grade: $36,902 year-one, $52,589 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.732 with $27,000 median debt. Near year-one earnings of $37k against $27k in debt at a private institution charging $51,450 in tuition produces a financially stressful outcome. The strong repayment rate (89.7% institution-wide) may reflect parental support rather than earnings. Psychology at Saint Michael's requires a graduate school pipeline to make financial sense.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 86.1% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 89.7% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 92.3% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 93.1% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Saint Michael's College’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 | 84.5% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 550-620 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 570-660 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 26-31 |
| Enrollment | 1,092 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 23.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,332 |
Saint Michael's admits 84.5% of applicants. SAT 550-620 Math and 570-660 Reading reflect a moderate academic bar. ACT 26-31 composite is the equivalent. The high admission rate means most applicants gain entry; the academic profile filters out only a small fraction of candidates. The stronger filter is fit with the Catholic residential culture.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Michael's College (this school) | 63 | $25,239 | $61,317 |
| AdventHealth University | 63 | $30,135 | $72,282 |
| Christian Brothers University | 62 | $9,854 | $57,478 |
| Walla Walla University | 62 | $23,329 | $61,885 |
| Champlain College | 49 | $35,860 | $58,386 |
| Bennington College | 26 | $30,947 | $38,289 |
Who Thrives Here
Saint Michael's admits 84.5% of applicants. SAT mid-ranges are 550-620 Math and 570-660 Reading; ACT composite 26-31. Enrollment is 1,092 - a small Catholic liberal arts college in Colchester, Vermont. The Pell grant rate of 23.7% reflects a mainly middle- and upper-income student body. Saint Michael's is a Edmundite Catholic institution emphasizing service and community. The small campus environment, Vermont location, and faith-connected culture attract students seeking a close-knit residential experience. Students in the sciences or social sciences should carefully examine the D-grade ROI programs before committing to the $51,450 sticker price.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Saint Michael's College is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $25,239 a year after aid ($100,956 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $61,317 a decade out, the cost takes about 9.2 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: its 72.8% graduation rate, high loan repayment success. What to keep an eye on: a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65 (median across the schools we score: 0.61).
Median debt of $26,922 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $41,400 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65. 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 Michael's College: Common Questions
Is Saint Michael's College worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Saint Michael's College is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 63/100 on our ROI scale. At $25,239 a year after aid ($100,956 over four years) against $61,317 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 9.2 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Saint Michael's College 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 $25,239 a year, or roughly $100,956 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 Michael's College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $61,317 ten years after enrolling, roughly $19,517 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 Michael's College?
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 9.2 years for Saint Michael's College. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Saint Michael's College graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $26,922, against average earnings of $41,400 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65. 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 Michael's College?
The six-year graduation rate is 72.8%, 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.
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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.