Saint Xavier University
Chicago, Illinois · Private Nonprofit · 84.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 72/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Saint Xavier University scores 72 (Fair Value) at a private Catholic university on Chicago's South Side with 3,096 students. Nursing drives nearly everything here: Registered Nursing has 194 graduates with $78,285 year-one and $87,170 four-year earnings, and a manageable 0.347 debt-to-earnings ratio (ROI grade B+). That program is the school's financial case. The rest of the program mix struggles: Psychology earns $31,094 at year one (ROI grade D), Biology earns $37,977 (ROI grade D), Business $44,190. Overall average 6-year earnings land at $41,400, and the completion rate of 56.6% means nearly half of enrolled students do not finish - a significant flag. With a $10,970 average net price and 58.9% Pell rate, this is a school serving a predominantly lower-income Chicago-area student body. For nursing students, Saint Xavier delivers real value. For most other majors at a school with a 57% completion rate, the ROI case does not hold.
Saint Xavier University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $37,940/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $37,940/yr |
| Average net price | $10,970/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $43,880 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $58,656 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $41,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,223 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $236 |
| Estimated payback period | 7.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 56.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 3,096 |
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: $37,940/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $10,970/year, or roughly $43,880 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 $7,572/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $17,864/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $22,223, which works out to about $236 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 0.54, 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 | $7,572 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $7,702 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $9,715 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $15,132 |
| $110,001+ | $17,864 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $7,572 per year - affordable and consistent with Saint Xavier's mission of serving the Chicago Catholic community's lower-income population. At this cost, even the school's lower-earning programs produce acceptable personal returns. Nursing graduates from this income bracket earn $78,285 in year one against roughly $30,000 in total four-year costs.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 30,001-48,000 bracket pays $7,702 and the 48,001-75,000 bracket pays $9,715 - still well below the sticker. The 75,001-110,000 bracket rises to $15,132. Cost is relatively affordable throughout middle income. The concern for middle-income families is the 56.6% completion rate: an affordable school only delivers value to students who graduate.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $17,864 per year. Against average 6-year earnings of $41,400, the investment is reasonable for nursing or finance students with clear post-graduation plans. For students in lower-earning programs, $17,864 per year against modest earnings outcomes is a tighter calculation.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Saint Xavier University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $87,170 | B+ |
| Psychology | $47,273 | D |
| Biology | $59,820 | D |
| Business Administration and Management | $65,447 | C |
| Finance and Financial Management | $75,180 | C+ |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $56,414 | C |
| Computer Science | $45,889 | C |
| Teacher Education | $58,097 | C |
| Accounting | $75,023 | C+ |
| Marketing | $65,330 | 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.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing (194 graduates) is the program that anchors Saint Xavier's financial case. Median year-one earnings of $78,285 and four-year earnings of $87,170 reflect strong placement in the Chicago-area healthcare system. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.347 (ROI grade B+) and $22,223 overall median debt indicate graduates are carrying manageable loads relative to income. For nursing students at a school with a $10,970 average net price, the year-one earnings of $78,285 represent an exceptional personal ROI, particularly for Pell-eligible students paying under $8,000 per year.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance (35 graduates) earns $46,452 at year one and $75,180 at four years. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.502 (ROI grade C+) shows the debt load is elevated relative to year-one earnings. The four-year figure ($75,180) reflects advancement into financial analyst, planning, and corporate finance roles in Chicago's financial services sector. Saint Xavier's South Side location and Catholic network create specific placement connections in community banking and regional financial services.
Business Administration and Management
Business Administration (39 graduates) earns $44,190 at year one and $65,447 at four years with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.607 (ROI grade C). The four-year figure ($65,447) shows advancement into mid-level management and operations roles.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 65.5% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 71.1% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 65.0% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 69.3% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Saint Xavier University’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 | 84.3% |
| Enrollment | 3,096 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 58.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,124 |
Saint Xavier does not report admissions selectivity data to the Scorecard. The 84.3% admission rate indicates nearly open access. Students with nursing goals face a program application process beyond general admission. The broader admissions picture is one of accessibility rather than selectivity.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Xavier University (this school) | 72 | $10,970 | $58,656 |
| The Catholic University of America | 77 | $29,561 | $73,250 |
| New York Institute of Technology | 73 | $22,443 | $70,080 |
| Iona University | 70 | $29,188 | $73,595 |
| Augustana College | 67 | $22,736 | $62,971 |
| School of the Art Institute of Chicago | 21 | $49,790 | $40,151 |
Who Thrives Here
Saint Xavier does not report SAT or ACT data to the Scorecard. The 84.3% admission rate signals near-open enrollment. The 58.9% Pell rate indicates the school primarily serves students from low-to-middle-income households. Students with clear nursing goals are the clearest fit: the program is large (194 graduates), the earnings are strong, and the Chicago-area healthcare market creates demand. Students entering other majors should carefully assess whether the school's 56.6% completion rate reflects a student population or program quality - and plan accordingly.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Saint Xavier University is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $10,970 a year after aid ($43,880 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $58,656 a decade out, the cost takes about 7.8 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates. What to keep an eye on: a three-year loan repayment rate of 71.1% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $22,223 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $41,400 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.54, 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.
Saint Xavier University: Common Questions
Is Saint Xavier University worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Saint Xavier University is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 72/100 on our ROI scale. At $10,970 a year after aid ($43,880 over four years) against $58,656 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 7.8 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Saint Xavier University 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 $10,970 a year, or roughly $43,880 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 Xavier University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $58,656 ten years after enrolling, roughly $16,856 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 Xavier University?
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 7.8 years for Saint Xavier University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Saint Xavier University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $22,223, against average earnings of $41,400 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.54. 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 Saint Xavier University?
The six-year graduation rate is 56.6%. 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.