St. Mary's University
San Antonio, Texas · Private Nonprofit · 97.8% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 51/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
St. Mary's University in San Antonio earns a Below Average Value ROI score of 51. The headline numbers tell a mixed story: a sticker price of $37,434 falls to a net price of $21,145 after aid (a roughly 44% discount), and graduates clear a 10.2-year payback period before tuition pays itself back in earnings. Earnings climb from $38,900 at the six-year mark to $56,955 by year ten, which signals a slow but real career ramp. Where the math gets uncomfortable is debt-to-earnings: a 0.657 ratio at $25,563 in median debt means early-career grads are servicing roughly two-thirds of their first-year salary against student loans, and only 63% of borrowers had paid down any principal three years out.
St. Mary's University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $37,434/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $37,434/yr |
| Average net price | $21,145/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $84,580 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $56,955 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $38,900 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,563 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $271 |
| Estimated payback period | 10.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 58.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,951 |
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: $37,434/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $21,145/year, or roughly $84,580 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 $18,352/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $24,649/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $25,563, which works out to about $271 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($38,900) and comes to 0.66, 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 | $18,352 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $21,470 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $20,553 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $22,331 |
| $110,001+ | $24,649 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $18,352 net per year - the lowest band but still a steep $73,408 across four years for households with little discretionary income. Pell and institutional aid stack here, but the family is still likely to take on parent or student loans to cover the gap. Given the 58.9% completion rate, low-income students should weigh whether finishing is realistic; not finishing while carrying $25K+ debt is the worst-case outcome.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $20,553 net - modestly less than the $30,001-$48,000 band ($21,470), an inverted glitch worth flagging where the slightly poorer cohort actually pays more. The $75,001-$110,000 bracket jumps to $22,331. Middle-income families face the classic donut-hole squeeze: too much income for need-based aid, not enough for $80K+ four-year out-of-pocket. Net price still beats sticker but not by enough to make the math obviously work.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,001+ pay $24,649 net. Across four years that's just under $100,000 before room and board.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at St. Mary's University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Finance and Financial Management | $82,753 | C+ |
| International Relations | $46,620 | C+ |
| Psychology | $41,580 | D |
| Biology | $46,873 | F |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $39,105 | C |
| Marketing | $66,151 | C+ |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $46,782 | D |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $52,553 | D |
| English Language and Literature | $51,014 | C |
| Accounting | $81,100 | - |
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.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance is the strongest standalone ROI program at St. Mary's: 43 graduates, $48,018 first-year earnings climbing to $82,753 by year four, $25,257 median debt, and a 0.526 debt-to-earnings ratio. Graduates feed into San Antonio's USAA, Frost Bank, and broader Texas financial-services labor market. For students committed to the Marianist setting, finance is the major where the school's price actually pencils out within a reasonable timeframe.
Marketing
Marketing graduates (20 per year) see $46,438 first-year and $66,151 four-year earnings against $24,267 median debt - a 0.523 debt-to-earnings ratio and C+ ROI grade. Career paths feed into San Antonio's tourism, healthcare-marketing, and consumer-brand sectors, plus growing digital-marketing roles. The earnings ramp is decent though not spectacular; this program works for students who want a business-school credential without the math-heavy demands of finance or accounting.
Psychology
Psychology is one of the school's largest programs (33 graduates) but among the weakest on ROI: $28,175 first-year and $41,580 four-year earnings against $26,000 median debt yields a 0.923 debt-to-earnings ratio and a D grade. The pattern is structural - bachelor's-only psych grads rarely earn well without a master's or doctorate, and the field's licensure pathway demands significant additional schooling. Students entering this program should plan on graduate school from day one or pivot toward a more applied complement (HR, social work, education).
Biology
Biology posts the school's most concerning numbers: 33 graduates, $20,104 first-year earnings (well below entry-level for non-STEM bachelor's degrees), $46,873 by year four, and $27,000 median debt - a 1.343 debt-to-earnings ratio and F grade. The very low first-year number suggests many graduates work in unrelated jobs or pursue further schooling without earnings. Biology at St. Mary's only makes sense as a pre-med or pre-PA pipeline; as a terminal bachelor's, the math does not work.
International Relations
International Relations turns out 33 graduates with $36,392 first-year and $46,620 four-year earnings, $19,500 median debt, and a 0.536 debt-to-earnings ratio (C+ grade). The relatively low debt is a bright spot, suggesting these students secure more aid or pay less. Career paths likely run through nonprofits, government, and immigration-related work, which San Antonio supports given proximity to the border. Earnings are modest, but the manageable debt load makes the math work better than the headline earnings would suggest.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 57.5% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 63.3% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 66.1% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 73.0% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How St. Mary's 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 | 97.8% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 435-645 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 465-665 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 15-27 |
| Enrollment | 1,951 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 38.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $10,724 |
St. Mary's accepts 97.8% of applicants, making it functionally open-admission for any student meeting basic prerequisites. Mid-50% test bands are wide - SAT Math 435-645 and ACT Composite 15-27 - which signals a student body spanning broad academic preparation levels. That low selectivity correlates with the 58.9% completion rate: when admit standards are loose, more under-prepared students enroll and a larger share don't finish, which depresses ROI for everyone.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Mary's University (this school) | 51 | $21,145 | $56,955 |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus | 56 | $22,829 | $57,273 |
| Abilene Christian University | 51 | $26,182 | $55,736 |
| University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne | 50 | $18,196 | $55,362 |
| Bob Jones University | 47 | $16,641 | $44,354 |
| Arlington Baptist University | 14 | $24,906 | $44,644 |
Who Thrives Here
St. Mary's fits Texas Catholic students who want a small Marianist community (enrollment 1,951), strong pre-law and pre-business pipelines, and access to San Antonio's growing financial-services sector. The Pell rate of 38.6% indicates a meaningfully working-class student body, and the school's mission of social justice and service draws first-generation Hispanic students in particular. Outcomes look strongest for finance and accounting majors - those graduates clear $80,000+ by year four.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for St. Mary's University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $21,145 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $56,955 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 10.2 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What to keep an eye on: a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 63.3% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $25,563 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $38,900 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66. 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.
St. Mary's University: Common Questions
Is St. Mary's University worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. St. Mary's University scores 51/100 on our ROI scale. At $21,145 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $56,955 ten years after entry, so it takes about 10.2 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does St. Mary's 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 $21,145 a year, or roughly $84,580 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. Mary's University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $56,955 ten years after enrolling, roughly $15,155 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. Mary's 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 10.2 years for St. Mary's University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do St. Mary's University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,563, against average earnings of $38,900 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66. 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. Mary's University?
The six-year graduation rate is 58.9%. 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.