University of St Thomas
Saint Paul, Minnesota · Private Nonprofit · 85.4% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 81/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of St. Thomas (Minnesota) scores 81 (Strong Value) on the CampusROI scale - a solid result for a private Catholic university in the Twin Cities with $54,398 sticker tuition. The 6.6-year payback period, $48,600 average 6-year earnings, and 87.1% 3-year loan repayment rate indicate that graduates are managing their finances well. The 76.4% completion rate is adequate. Management Sciences leads on ROI (35 graduates, $78,978 year-one, $108,187 year-four, ROI grade A), and Computer Science (36 graduates, $73,301 year-one, $107,938 year-four, ROI grade B+) and Finance (154 graduates, $66,006 year-one, $93,720 year-four) anchor the business school. The average net price of $29,155 is the critical variable. Those paying near sticker need to engage the numbers program by program.
University of St Thomas scores in the top 13% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
University of St Thomas
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $54,398/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $54,398/yr |
| Average net price | $29,155/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $116,620 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $73,739 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $48,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,250 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $246 |
| Estimated payback period | 6.6 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 76.4% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 6,245 |
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: $54,398/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $29,155/year, or roughly $116,620 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 $28,131/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $33,232/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 ($48,600) and comes to 0.48, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
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 | $28,131 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $26,820 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $24,357 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $25,363 |
| $110,001+ | $33,232 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $28,131 net price per year at St. Thomas. The $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays slightly less at $26,820. These are expensive entry points for low-income families; the 21.8% Pell grant rate suggests the school enrolls a modest share of low-income students.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-$75,000) pay $24,357 per year - lower than the low-income brackets, an unusual inversion. The $75,001-$110,000 bracket pays $25,363. The 6.6-year payback period at median earnings means the investment is recoverable within a working career for most program tracks.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $33,232 per year, totaling about $132,928 over four years.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of St Thomas with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $82,396 | B |
| Finance and Financial Management | $93,720 | B |
| Marketing | $77,870 | C+ |
| Mechanical Engineering | $91,683 | B |
| Biology | $71,619 | D |
| Accounting | $91,587 | B |
| Psychology | $59,398 | D |
| Economics | $89,881 | B |
| Entrepreneurship | $79,390 | B |
| Computer Science | $107,938 | B+ |
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.
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods is St. Thomas's highest ROI program: 35 graduates, $78,978 year-one, $108,187 year-four, ROI grade A, debt-to-earnings 0.234. Median debt is $18,500 against year-one earnings above $79k. This program feeds into data analytics, operations research, and quantitative finance roles in the Twin Cities, where major financial and retail corporations provide strong demand for quantitative talent.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance is the largest high-earning program at 154 graduates: $66,006 year-one, $93,720 year-four, ROI grade B, debt-to-earnings 0.398. The four-year trajectory from $66k to $94k reflects career progression in financial services. Median debt of $26,250 is manageable against these earnings but warrants active repayment management.
Computer Science
Computer Science has 36 graduates earning $73,301 year-one and $107,938 year-four, ROI grade B+, debt-to-earnings 0.323. The year-one figure above $73k is strong for a private regional university, and the four-year trajectory to $108k reflects career momentum in a structured tech labor market.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is the largest program by volume at 156 graduates, with $56,401 year-one and $82,396 year-four earnings, ROI grade B, debt-to-earnings 0.443. The four-year figure of $82k suggests good career progression for those who move into specialized functions or advance within organizations. Median debt of $25,000 is workable.
Psychology
Psychology has 64 graduates earning $38,396 year-one and $59,398 year-four, ROI grade D, debt-to-earnings 0.703. The year-one figure reflects the broad and often underpaid entry-level market for bachelor's-level psychology graduates. At $54,398 sticker tuition, the $38k starting salary is a difficult ratio. The four-year figure of $59k suggests career progression, but students paying near full tuition should think carefully about post-baccalaureate plans, as the net price makes the financial case tight without graduate school or a clear career path.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 84.5% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 87.1% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 85.5% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 89.5% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of St Thomas’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 | 85.4% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 620-710 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 640-713 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 25-30 |
| Enrollment | 6,245 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 21.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,771 |
An 85.4% acceptance rate with ACT 25-30 composite makes St. Thomas accessible to most college-ready students. The SAT Math 620-710 range indicates a moderate academic profile. Families should run the net price calculator early - the gap between $54,398 sticker and $29,155 average net price suggests meaningful institutional aid is available.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of St Thomas (this school) | 81 | $29,155 | $73,739 |
| Marquette University | 83 | $31,487 | $78,257 |
| Gonzaga University | 81 | $35,119 | $78,892 |
| Butler University | 79 | $36,041 | $77,235 |
| Augsburg University | 53 | $23,873 | $58,829 |
| Bethany Lutheran College | 35 | $20,148 | $46,110 |
Who Thrives Here
St. Thomas admits 85.4% of applicants with SAT ranges of 620-710 Math and 640-713 Reading and ACT 25-30 composite. It is an accessible private university in St. Paul with 6,245 undergraduates. The Opus College of Business has a genuine regional pipeline into financial services, consulting, and Twin Cities corporations. Students from Minnesota will find strong local employer relationships; out-of-state students should assess whether those relationships extend to their target labor markets.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, University of St Thomas pays off. You'd pay about $29,155 a year after aid ($116,620 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $73,739 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 6.6 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: its 76.4% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $23,250 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $48,600 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48, 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.
University of St Thomas: Common Questions
Is University of St Thomas worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students University of St Thomas pays off. It scores 81/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $29,155 a year after aid ($116,620 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $73,739 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 6.6 years to earn back.
How much does University of St Thomas 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 $29,155 a year, or roughly $116,620 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 University of St Thomas graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $73,739 ten years after enrolling, roughly $31,939 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 University of St Thomas?
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 6.6 years for University of St Thomas. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of St Thomas graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $23,250, against average earnings of $48,600 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48. 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 University of St Thomas?
The six-year graduation rate is 76.4%, 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.