Saint Vincent College
Latrobe, Pennsylvania · Private Nonprofit · 61.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 61/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Saint Vincent College earns a 61 ROI score and sits in Fair Value tier, anchored by two genuinely strong sub-scores: a 68.6% completion rate (76/100) and an 83.9% repayment rate (83/100). Tuition is steep at $42,396, but Saint Vincent discounts aggressively - net price after aid is $23,510 with four-year total cost at $94,040. Median earnings ten years out reach $59,982, producing a 9.4-year payback period. The weak spot is debt-to-earnings at 0.662 (scoring 37/100); median debt of $27,000 is meaningful against entry-level earnings. The earnings-premium score of 58 is solid. What's working: students who enroll mostly finish, and graduates mostly stay on their loans. STEM and finance programs are the strongest ROI bets; humanities and social-science majors face the weaker math.
Saint Vincent College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $42,396/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $42,396/yr |
| Average net price | $23,510/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $94,040 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $59,982 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $40,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 9.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 68.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,259 |
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: $42,396/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $23,510/year, or roughly $94,040 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 $17,249/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $26,448/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 ($40,800) and comes to 0.66, 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 | $17,249 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $18,117 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $19,637 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $23,382 |
| $110,001+ | $26,448 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $17,249 - substantially discounted from the $23,510 average net price. With Pell, Pennsylvania PHEAA aid, and Saint Vincent's institutional aid stacked, the financial profile is workable for low-income students who choose STEM or business majors. Four-year totals around $69,000 against $59,982 median earnings is a reasonable bet.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $18,117, climbing to $19,637 for $48,001-$75,000 and $23,382 for $75,001-$110,000. The aid scaling is reasonably gradual through the middle-income range.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $26,448 - well below the $42,396 sticker, with $16,000 of merit/need discount even at high incomes. At four-year totals around $106,000 against $60,000 median earnings, the math is acceptable for STEM majors and tougher for humanities. The merit aid is real here.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Saint Vincent College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $73,584 | C |
| Biology | $62,726 | D |
| Psychology | $50,904 | F |
| Political Science and Government | $52,788 | D |
| Communication and Media Studies | $50,341 | F |
| Engineering, General | $84,180 | B |
| Accounting | $71,363 | - |
| Teacher Education | $51,241 | C |
| Finance and Financial Management | $84,478 | B |
| Marketing | $62,330 | 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.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business is the largest program at 32 graduates with first-year earnings of $46,866 climbing to $73,584, against $27,000 in debt - a C grade and 0.576 ratio. The four-year earnings trajectory is genuinely strong; the entry-level number is the binding constraint for the first few years of loan payments. Solid utility major for students entering Pittsburgh-area corporate or financial-services employers.
Biology
Biology graduated 22 with first-year earnings of just $33,322 against $27,000 in debt - a D grade and 0.81 ratio. The four-year earnings rise sharply to $62,726, indicating many graduates continue to graduate or professional programs (PA, medical, dental, PT). Standalone bachelor's math is rough; pre-health pathway placement is the real value proposition.
Psychology
Psychology produced 22 with first-year earnings of $24,155 against $27,000 in debt - an F grade and 1.118 ratio. The four-year earnings rise to $50,904, suggesting graduate-school continuation drives most positive outcomes. As a standalone bachelor's, this is the highest-risk major at Saint Vincent's price. Counseling-track graduate planning is essentially required.
Political Science and Government
Poli Sci graduated 21 with first-year earnings of $37,563 against $27,000 in debt - a D grade and 0.719 ratio. The four-year figure climbs to $52,788. Many graduates continue to law school; for those who don't, government and policy entry-level jobs offer modest pay growth. The income trajectory works better for students who continue to JD or MPP.
Communication and Media Studies
Communication produced 19 graduates with a striking $25,889 first-year median against $27,000 in debt - an F grade with a 1.043 ratio. The four-year figure rises to $50,341, indicating real career growth, but the entry-level financial pressure is severe. Highest-risk humanities major at Saint Vincent's price point; students should target specific media or marketing pathways aggressively.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 83.1% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 83.9% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 84.4% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 87.6% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Saint Vincent 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 | 61.7% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 510-610 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 510-620 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 20-27 |
| Enrollment | 1,259 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 26.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,302 |
Saint Vincent admits 61.7% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 510-610 in math and 510-620 in reading, and ACT 20-27. The relatively narrow score bands (510 25th percentile across both sections) mean the student body is academically reasonably homogeneous, which is a likely contributor to the 68.6% completion rate. Test-optional applicants make up a meaningful share; published scores skew toward the prepared end.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Saint Vincent's ROI is 61. Saint Vincent's completion and repayment rates are notably strong.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Vincent College (this school) | 61 | $23,510 | $59,982 |
| AdventHealth University | 63 | $30,135 | $72,282 |
| Walla Walla University | 62 | $23,329 | $61,885 |
| Coe College | 60 | $18,745 | $57,125 |
| Albright College | 56 | $20,024 | $58,700 |
| Bryn Athyn College of the New Church | 34 | $20,586 | $40,457 |
Who Thrives Here
With 1,259 students and a 26.7% Pell rate, Saint Vincent serves a primarily middle-class Western Pennsylvania student body with strong Catholic-identity orientation. Less ideal fit: humanities students at full-pay brackets, since the earnings outcomes for English and history graduates are modest against the net price.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Saint Vincent College is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $23,510 a year after aid ($94,040 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $59,982 a decade out, the cost takes about 9.4 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 68.6% graduation rate, high loan repayment success. What to keep an eye on: a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66 (median across the schools we score: 0.61).
Median debt of $27,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $40,800 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66. 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 Vincent College: Common Questions
Is Saint Vincent College worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Saint Vincent College is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 61/100 on our ROI scale. At $23,510 a year after aid ($94,040 over four years) against $59,982 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 9.4 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Saint Vincent 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 $23,510 a year, or roughly $94,040 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 Vincent College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $59,982 ten years after enrolling, roughly $18,182 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 Vincent 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 9.4 years for Saint Vincent College. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Saint Vincent College graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $27,000, against average earnings of $40,800 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66. 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 Vincent College?
The six-year graduation rate is 68.6%, 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.