St. John's University-New York
Queens, New York · Private Nonprofit · 83.4% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 68/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
St. John's University-New York scores 68 (Fair Value). The data: $53,020 tuition discounts to a $29,999 net price (43% discount), $25,000 median federal debt, and ten-year median earnings of $69,571. The 0.52 debt-to-earnings ratio and 7.5-year payback period are both genuinely competitive. Repayment rate of 74.2% is the soft spot, slightly below where the earnings would suggest. The school's pharmacy, insurance, actuarial science, and finance programs anchor the strongest outcomes; its very large enrollment in biology (343), criminal justice (196), and business admin (182) creates significant variance in graduate outcomes. As of 2024-2025 Scorecard data, St. John's is a defensible value for students in its professional pipelines and a riskier proposition for the larger liberal-arts and humanities enrollments.
St. John's University-New York
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $53,020/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $53,020/yr |
| Average net price | $29,999/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $119,996 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $69,571 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $48,100 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $265 |
| Estimated payback period | 7.5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 66.1% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 9,477 |
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: $53,020/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $29,999/year, or roughly $119,996 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 $27,787/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $33,661/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $25,000, which works out to about $265 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($48,100) and comes to 0.52, 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 | $27,787 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $27,654 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $29,280 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $32,208 |
| $110,001+ | $33,661 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30K pay $27,787 net per year, and the $30K-$48K band actually pays slightly less at $27,654 - mild bracket inversion typical of need-based aid stacking. Pell and NY state aid help modestly. Low-income students face roughly $111K four-year out-of-pocket cost.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48K-$75K band pays $29,280 and the $75K-$110K band climbs to $32,208. Middle-income NYC-metro families face $117K-$129K in four-year out-of-pocket cost. The math works for the professional programs but strains against the school's many bachelor's-only humanities and social-science offerings.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110K pay $33,661 net per year, totaling roughly $135K over four years.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at St. John's University-New York with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | $53,989 | F |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $63,978 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $71,271 | C |
| Psychology | $62,672 | F |
| Finance and Financial Management | $98,970 | C+ |
| Non-Professional Legal Studies | $65,316 | D |
| Communication and Media Studies | $60,634 | D |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $60,265 | D |
| Marketing | $75,520 | D |
| Communication Disorders Sciences | $74,937 | F |
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.
Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment
Allied Health (largely pharmacy at St. John's) is the standout: 20 graduates with $100,883 first-year earnings, $142,774 at four years out, $27,000 debt, and a 0.268 D/E ratio (B+ grade). St. John's Pharm.D. pipeline anchors the school's overall ROI case.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance produces 129 graduates with $51,259 first-year earnings, $98,970 at four years (a dramatic four-year earnings jump reflecting strong NYC career trajectories), $26,000 debt, and a 0.507 D/E ratio (C+ grade). The four-year number reveals the program's real value - graduates enter NYC financial services and ramp earnings sharply.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Admin enrolls 182 graduates with $38,550 first-year earnings and $71,271 at four years - same dramatic NYC ramp pattern. $26,121 debt produces a 0.678 D/E ratio (C grade). Outcomes reflect NYC's strong professional services labor market.
Biology
Biology is St. John's largest single major with 343 graduates and one of its weaker outcomes: $23,473 first-year earnings, $25,023 debt, and a 1.066 D/E ratio (F grade). Pre-med pipeline issues compounded by NYC's high cost of living. Students need a concrete medical/PA/dental school plan; otherwise this is a structurally problematic financial choice.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice enrolls 196 graduates with $34,686 first-year earnings, $26,719 debt, and a 0.77 D/E ratio (D grade). NYPD and federal law enforcement pipelines provide some upside but the bachelor's debt load is steep against starting public-sector pay. Workable for students with clear law-enforcement career plans.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 68.5% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 74.2% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 69.7% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 74.2% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How St. John's University-New York’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 | 83.4% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 570-670 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 580-670 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 24-29 |
| Enrollment | 9,477 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 24.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $13,500 |
St. John's admits 83.4% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 570-670 math and 580-670 reading, and an ACT band of 24-29. The school is moderately selective with a clear academic floor for prepared B-average students. The 66% completion rate aligns reasonably with this admit profile.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. John's University-New York (this school) | 68 | $29,999 | $69,571 |
| Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | 94 | $29,882 | $131,426 |
| Adelphi University | 75 | $30,783 | $75,482 |
| Loyola University Chicago | 69 | $36,079 | $71,530 |
| Bellevue University | 65 | $17,550 | $61,289 |
| National University | 64 | $22,878 | $67,548 |
Who Thrives Here
St. John's fits prepared NYC-metro students targeting pharmacy, actuarial science, insurance, finance, or pre-health professional pipelines, particularly those drawn to the Catholic Vincentian identity and Queens location. With 24.2% Pell rate and 9,477 students, the campus is large enough to support program diversity and economically mixed. Strong fit for professionally-focused students with clear career plans; weaker fit for students drifting into the school's large psychology, biology, criminal justice, or liberal arts enrollments where outcomes are mediocre against the cost.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
St. John's University-New York is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $29,999 a year after aid ($119,996 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $69,571 a decade out, the cost takes about 7.5 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Median debt of $25,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $48,100 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.52, 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's University-New York: Common Questions
Is St. John's University-New York worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether St. John's University-New York is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 68/100 on our ROI scale. At $29,999 a year after aid ($119,996 over four years) against $69,571 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 7.5 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does St. John's University-New York 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 $29,999 a year, or roughly $119,996 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's University-New York graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $69,571 ten years after enrolling, roughly $27,771 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's University-New York?
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 7.5 years for St. John's University-New York. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do St. John's University-New York graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,000, against average earnings of $48,100 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.52. 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's University-New York?
The six-year graduation rate is 66.1%, 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.