St. John Fisher University
Rochester, New York · Private Nonprofit · 66.4% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 71/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
St. John Fisher University is a mid-sized private Catholic institution in Rochester, New York, enrolling 2,565 students. Its ROI score of 71 places it in the Fair Value tier. The average net price of $28,945 produces a four-year total cost estimate of $115,780. Six-year average earnings of $43,400 and median ten-year earnings of $66,944 reflect the college's health, business, and education graduate base. The payback period of 8 years is acceptable, and the repayment rate at year three is 82.2%. Median debt of $23,250 is below the private-college average, and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.536 is moderate. Pell Grant recipients make up 28.7% of the student body. Students in business, finance, and accounting have favorable trajectories, though the college's overall earnings premium of 0.276 is modest.
St. John Fisher University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $41,190/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $41,190/yr |
| Average net price | $28,945/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $115,780 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $66,944 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $43,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,250 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $246 |
| Estimated payback period | 8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 74.2% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,565 |
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: $41,190/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $28,945/year, or roughly $115,780 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 $16,054/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $34,085/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $23,250, which works out to about $246 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($43,400) 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 | $16,054 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $17,953 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $25,992 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $30,268 |
| $110,001+ | $34,085 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Students with family incomes below $30,000 pay a net price of $16,054 per year - about $64,000 over four years. For students targeting nursing, this is strong ROI given $73,333 first-year median earnings. For general programs with lower earnings trajectories, the cost-to-outcome ratio is more challenging at this income band.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($30,001 - $75,000) face net prices of $17,953 - $25,992 - a wide range that reflects differential aid.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income families ($75,001 and above) pay $30,268 - $34,085 per year. At these prices, Fisher competes primarily on the quality of the Catholic residential experience and career placement networks in Rochester and western New York rather than on cost efficiency alone.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at St. John Fisher University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $86,470 | B |
| Biology | $61,201 | D |
| Psychology | $53,568 | C |
| Teacher Education | $56,411 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $57,184 | C+ |
| Finance and Financial Management | $70,455 | C |
| Marketing | $68,086 | C+ |
| Accounting | $72,171 | C+ |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $56,069 | C |
| Non-Professional Legal Studies | $54,899 | - |
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 Fisher's highest-volume and highest-value program, with 205 graduates. Year-one earnings of $73,333 rise to $86,470 by year four. Median debt of $27,000 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.368 earn a B grade. Fisher's nursing program feeds into the strong Rochester healthcare market and delivers outcomes well above the institutional median.
Accounting
Accounting (30 graduates) earns a C+ grade with year-one earnings of $54,178 and four-year earnings of $72,171. Median debt of $27,000 and a ratio of 0.498 are at the upper edge of acceptable. Accounting graduates find strong regional placement into Rochester's financial and corporate sector, and the four-year earning trajectory is encouraging.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance (42 graduates) earns a C grade with year-one earnings of $46,785 and four-year earnings of $70,455. Median debt of $26,000 and a ratio of 0.556 are moderate. Four-year earnings growth is strong, suggesting finance graduates who stay in the field build meaningful compensation by mid-career.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business (43 graduates) earns a C+ grade with year-one earnings of $46,890 and four-year earnings of $57,184. Median debt of $24,845 and a ratio of 0.530 are manageable.
Marketing
Marketing (39 graduates) earns a C+ grade with year-one earnings of $44,679 and four-year earnings of $68,086. Median debt of $22,701 and a ratio of 0.508 are among the better debt situations on campus. Four-year earnings growth is notable, suggesting marketing graduates have good mid-career momentum.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 77.6% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 82.2% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 79.1% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 81.7% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How St. John Fisher 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 | 66.4% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 560-650 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 560-650 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 23-28 |
| Enrollment | 2,565 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 28.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,676 |
Fisher admits 66.4% of applicants. SAT scores range from 560 - 650 in math and 560 - 650 in reading; ACT composites fall between 23 and 28.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Fisher's repayment rate is 82.2% at year three, reflecting a graduate base that generally manages loan obligations well.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. John Fisher University (this school) | 71 | $28,945 | $66,944 |
| Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | 94 | $29,882 | $131,426 |
| Adelphi University | 75 | $30,783 | $75,482 |
| Holy Family University | 73 | $13,143 | $62,235 |
| Salve Regina University | 69 | $36,967 | $72,975 |
| Carroll University | 68 | $15,193 | $58,009 |
Who Thrives Here
Fisher is a good match for students seeking a Catholic, residential experience in the Rochester metro area who have a clear professional goal - especially in nursing, business, or accounting. Students undecided on a career direction or studying lower-earning majors like English or communications should weigh costs carefully.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
St. John Fisher University is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $28,945 a year after aid ($115,780 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $66,944 a decade out, the cost takes about 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: its 74.2% graduation rate, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $23,250 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $43,400 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.
St. John Fisher University: Common Questions
Is St. John Fisher University worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether St. John Fisher University is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 71/100 on our ROI scale. At $28,945 a year after aid ($115,780 over four years) against $66,944 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 8 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does St. John Fisher 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 $28,945 a year, or roughly $115,780 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. John Fisher University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $66,944 ten years after enrolling, roughly $25,144 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. John Fisher 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 8 years for St. John Fisher University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do St. John Fisher University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $23,250, against average earnings of $43,400 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 St. John Fisher University?
The six-year graduation rate is 74.2%, 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.