St Catherine University
Saint Paul, Minnesota · Private Nonprofit · 91.8% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 66/100 · Fair Value
St. Catherine University, a Catholic women-oriented private in Saint Paul, MN, posts an ROI score of 66 -- Fair Value tier and one of the stronger numbers among small privates in this batch. The metrics are balanced: median 10-year earnings of $59,282 are competitive, modeled payback runs 9 years, debt-to-earnings sits at 0.55 against median debt of $24,181, completion is 61.3%, and the 5-year repayment rate of 71.4% is solid. The price story is striking: tuition is $51,454 (the highest in this batch), but average net price is $19,764 -- meaning institutional aid discounts the sticker by about 60%. Pell rate of 40% reflects substantial socioeconomic diversity. The school's program portfolio leans heavily into health professions: nursing (163 graduates, the largest cohort by far) earns $76,084 first-year and $85,514 four years out, and allied health diagnostic and treatment (52 graduates) earns $72,272 first-year and $83,211 four years out. Both post B ROI grades. Outside of the health-professions cluster, outcomes weaken -- public health, social work, psychology, and ASL all post C, D, or low ratings. St. Kate's works particularly well for nursing, allied health, accounting, and economics students; it works less well for general humanities or psychology majors who would face the school's worst ROI subgroups. The Twin Cities metro location adds clinical placement strength.
St Catherine University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $51,454/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $51,454/yr |
| Average net price | $19,764/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $79,056 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $59,282 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $44,300 |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,181 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $256 |
| Estimated payback period | 9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 61.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,473 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at St Catherine University is $51,454/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $19,764/year, or roughly $79,056 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $17,890/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $27,021/year.
The median graduate leaves with $24,181 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $256 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $59,282 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.55 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
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 | $17,890 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $15,190 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $15,451 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $19,376 |
| $110,001+ | $27,021 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $17,890 net annually -- meaningful aid versus the $19,764 average. Pell, MN State Grant, and St. Kate's institutional aid combine substantially; four-year cost runs about $72,000. For a Pell-eligible nursing or allied health student who completes, the math pencils strongly given $76,000-$85,000 four-year earnings. Low-income humanities students should reconsider the major or the school.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Note an inverted pattern: families earning $30,001-$48,000 pay $15,190 -- LESS than the lowest-income tier and the lowest in the schedule. The $48,001-$75,000 group pays $15,451, jumping to $19,376 at $75,001-$110,000. Middle-income four-year totals run $61,000-$78,000. The non-monotonic pattern reflects need-and-merit aid stacking quirks plus strong middle-income institutional commitment. Even at the higher middle-income tiers, nursing ROI is excellent.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $27,021 -- about 53% of sticker, indicating real institutional discounting at the top. Four years runs roughly $108,000. With nursing four-year earnings of $85,514 and allied health at $83,211, the math still works comfortably for those tracks. High-income humanities students should still compare against U Minnesota, where in-state tuition would deliver a far better cost basis.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at St Catherine University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $85,514 | B |
| Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment | $83,211 | B |
| Public Health | $61,169 | D |
| Social Work | $62,227 | C |
| Psychology | $32,426 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $67,876 | C |
| Biology | $64,834 | C |
| Teacher Education | $48,822 | - |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $61,048 | C+ |
| Economics | $87,821 | 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
Nursing is St. Kate's flagship and one of the largest nursing programs at any Minnesota private. With 163 graduates per year, $76,084 first-year and $85,514 four-year median earnings, and median debt of $32,610 (high but justifiable), nursing posts a 0.43 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B ROI grade. Twin Cities nursing demand and St. Kate's clinical placements at HealthPartners, Allina, and Fairview deliver strong launching-point outcomes. The dominant value case for the school.
Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment
Allied health graduates 52 students per year with $72,272 first-year and $83,211 four-year median earnings. Median debt of $31,000 yields a 0.43 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B ROI grade. Programs cover radiologic science, sonography, and respiratory care -- all licensed clinical pathways with strong Twin Cities healthcare-system demand. Excellent ROI for this credential.
Economics
Economics graduates 15 students per year with $64,916 first-year and $87,821 four-year median earnings -- the highest reported four-year earnings on campus. Median debt of $30,215 yields a 0.47 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C+ ROI grade. Smaller cohort but excellent earnings outcomes; econ majors at St. Kate's place into Twin Cities financial services, consulting, and research roles. Strong choice for a quantitatively inclined student.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business graduates 33 students per year with $54,419 first-year and $67,876 four-year median earnings. Median debt of $35,410 (the highest in the dataset for this school) yields a 0.65 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C ROI grade. Outcomes are decent, but the high borrowing drags the math. Prospective business students should aggressively pursue scholarships.
Public Health
Public health graduates 49 students per year with $42,407 first-year and $61,169 four-year median earnings. Median debt of $29,815 yields a 0.70 debt-to-earnings ratio and a D ROI grade. The four-year recovery suggests many graduates pursue MPH degrees; bachelor's-only outcomes here struggle to service typical St. Kate's debt. Prospective public health students should plan for graduate study before paying private tuition for this major.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 74.0% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 77.3% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 71.4% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 76.2% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 91.8% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 370-580 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 480-560 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 20-26 |
| Enrollment | 2,473 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 40.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,616 |
St. Kate's admits 91.9% of applicants -- broadly accessible. SAT mid-range runs 370-580 math (the wide gap suggests test-optional patterns or small reporting cohorts) and 480-560 reading; ACT spans 20-26. The 61.3% completion rate is reasonable given the accessibility of admissions, and reflects the school's track record of supporting students who arrive with uneven preparation through the nursing prerequisite pipeline.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
St. Kate's named peers are Augsburg University, Bethany Lutheran College, Utica University, Dominican University, and Fairleigh Dickinson University Metropolitan Campus. The peer set is mid-sized faith-affiliated privates. Augsburg (Twin Cities Lutheran) is the closest geographic peer and posts comparable ROI but with broader programming. Dominican University (Illinois) is the closest mission analog as a Catholic women-rooted institution. St. Kate's outperforms most peers on health-professions outcomes thanks to its nursing and allied health concentration; it sits behind peers like Augsburg on broad liberal-arts outcomes.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Catherine University (this school) | 66 | $19,764 | $59,282 |
| Bryn Mawr College | 74 | $31,759 | $75,217 |
| Smith College | 73 | $27,579 | $64,027 |
| Simmons University | 72 | $25,265 | $63,494 |
| Mount Holyoke College | 60 | $26,441 | $58,418 |
| Cedar Crest College | 58 | $18,659 | $59,460 |
Who Thrives Here
St. Kate's fits a Twin Cities or upper Midwest student -- often female, often Pell-eligible (40% Pell), often a first-generation college student -- pursuing a health-professions credential. Enrollment of 2,473 keeps classes manageable. Strong fits include nursing, allied health, accounting, and economics students who benefit from the women-rooted environment and the Catholic educational tradition. Weaker fits are humanities, ASL, and general psychology majors who would face the school's worst ROI subgroups; those students should compare against U Minnesota or Augsburg for stronger options.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
St Catherine University offers fair financial value, though the ROI depends heavily on individual circumstances. The net cost of $19,764 per year leads to $79,056 over four years, while graduates earn a median of $59,282 a decade out. The payback period of 9 years is about average - not bad, but not a standout either.
Median debt of $24,181 against $59,282 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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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.