St. Andrews University
Laurinburg, North Carolina · Private Nonprofit
ROI Score: 16/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
St. Andrews University scores 16 (Below Benchmark). Every metric is a warning signal. Average 6-year earnings are $31,900. The payback period is 25.5 years. The completion rate is 29.5% - fewer than three in ten students who enroll graduate. The three-year repayment rate of 58.7% means more than four in ten borrowers are not reducing principal at year three. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.792 compounds these problems. Net price of $32,513 is nearly equal to the $32,388 sticker tuition - Scorecard shows almost no discount for a school with a 48.8% Pell grant rate. Scorecard does not report admission rate or test score ranges for St. Andrews. Enrollment is 628 students in Laurinburg, NC - a small rural campus with limited labor market access. Only three programs have Scorecard data: Teacher Education (9 graduates, C), Kinesiology (19 graduates, D), and Business Administration (0 graduates reported, D). The Pell rate of 48.8% means that nearly half of enrolled students are from lower-income families who are most exposed to the consequences of poor completion and high net prices.
How St. Andrews University scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- ROI Score16/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- 6-year graduation rate29.5% - The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our score, since a degree that is not finished rarely pays back.
- Payback period25.5 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
St. Andrews University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $32,388/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $32,388/yr |
| Average net price | $32,513/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $130,052 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $45,606 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $31,900 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,250 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $268 |
| Estimated payback period | 25.5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 29.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 628 |
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: $32,388/year, which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $32,513/year, or roughly $130,052 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 $29,730/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $37,063/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $25,250, which works out to about $268 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($31,900) and comes to 0.79, 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 | $29,730 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $28,132 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $32,747 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $36,377 |
| $110,001+ | $37,063 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $29,730 per year at St. Andrews. The $30,001-48,000 bracket pays $28,132. These net prices indicate minimal grant aid relative to cost of attendance. Over four years, roughly $112,000-$119,000 in total net cost. Against $31,900 average earnings and a 25.5-year payback, this is a severe financial risk for lower-income families.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-75,000 bracket pays $32,747; the $75,001-110,000 bracket pays $36,377. Net prices exceed or match sticker tuition in some brackets - an unusual and troubling pattern suggesting the aid formula adds fees or the data reflects an anomalous cohort. At any of these prices, the school's completion rate is 29.5% and its payback period is 25.5 years.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families over $110,000 pay $37,063 per year. At $148,000 total net cost for a school with a 29.5% graduation rate and $31,900 average earnings, there is no ROI case. High-income families choosing St. Andrews should do so purely for non-financial reasons with full awareness of the data.
Earnings by Major
Top 3 most popular majors at St. Andrews University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $49,068 | D |
| Teacher Education | $44,747 | C |
| Business Administration and Management | $50,253 | 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.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education (9 graduates - the best-performing program in this data) earns $41,296 year-one and $44,747 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio 0.620 (ROI grade C). Median debt of $25,596. The C grade is the highest at St. Andrews, but it reflects modest outcomes: starting teacher salaries in rural North Carolina are consistent with these figures, and the four-year growth is minimal. For students committed to K-12 teaching in the region, it is the most defensible program here.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology and Exercise Science (19 graduates) earns $29,540 year-one and $49,068 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio 0.914 (ROI grade D). Median debt of $27,000 against $29,540 starting salary is nearly 1:1 at entry. The four-year trajectory to $49k requires graduate credentials for most clinical paths. At a $32,500 net price, this program does not produce a defensible financial return.
Business Administration and Management
Business Administration shows $29,923 year-one and $50,253 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.869 (ROI grade D), but 0 graduates are reported by Scorecard for this program, meaning the earnings data applies to a program that may not be actively producing completers. The D-grade and 0-graduate count make this program data too thin to rely on for enrollment decisions.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 48.4% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 58.7% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 48.4% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 56.2% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How St. Andrews University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2023).
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
| Enrollment | 628 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 48.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $4,962 |
Scorecard does not report St. Andrews' admission rate or standardized test score ranges. The institution is small (628 students) and likely has limited selectivity given the enrollment level and data profile. The critical concern is not admission but the financial and completion risk: a 29.5% graduation rate means most students who enroll will not earn the credential they came for. Students considering St. Andrews should ask the institution directly for current graduation rates and typical graduate debt levels.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
The structural financial challenge at St. Andrews is acute and is reflected consistently across every CampusROI metric.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Andrews University (this school) | 16 | $32,513 | $45,606 |
| Barton College | 24 | $23,626 | $47,913 |
| Belmont Abbey College | 24 | $24,639 | $47,937 |
| Ferrum College | 17 | $20,082 | $44,296 |
| Herzing University-Minneapolis | 16 | $16,670 | $36,909 |
| Villa Maria College | 15 | $13,494 | $38,857 |
Who Thrives Here
Scorecard does not report admission rate or test score ranges for St. Andrews University. Enrollment of 628 students creates a very small campus environment in rural North Carolina. The 48.8% Pell rate reflects substantial lower-income enrollment. Students drawn to St. Andrews likely value the small campus setting and equestrian or athletic programs that are difficult to assess via Scorecard data. However, prospective students must weigh a 29.5% completion rate and 25.5-year payback period against any non-financial institutional draws. Few financial scenarios at this net price produce an acceptable return given the Scorecard data.
The Verdict, Historically: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
St. Andrews University closed in May 2025. The assessment below describes how this school performed while it was operating, and is not a recommendation about where to enroll now.
Under our methodology, St. Andrews University scores 16/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $32,513 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $45,606 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 25.5 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, its 29.5% graduation rate, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.79 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 58.7% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $25,250 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $31,900 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.79. 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.
If you borrowed to attend, check closed school discharge first.
Federal student loans can sometimes be discharged in full if your school closed while you were enrolled or shortly after you withdrew. Eligibility depends on your withdrawal date and whether you completed your program or transferred the credits. Refinancing federal loans into a private loan gives up this and every other federal protection permanently, so check discharge before you refinance anything.
St. Andrews University: Common Questions
Is St. Andrews University worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. St. Andrews University scores 16/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $32,513 a year after aid against $45,606 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 25.5 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does St. Andrews 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 $32,513 a year, or roughly $130,052 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 St. Andrews University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $45,606 ten years after enrolling, roughly $3,806 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 St. Andrews 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 25.5 years for St. Andrews University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do St. Andrews University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,250, against average earnings of $31,900 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.79. 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 St. Andrews University?
The six-year graduation rate is 29.5%. 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.