University of St Thomas
Houston, Texas · Private Nonprofit · 89.9% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 69/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of St Thomas in Houston earns a 69 ROI score and a Fair Value tier rating. Sticker tuition is $34,634 against a net price of $19,359 - a substantial 44 percent discount - and four-year cost of attendance lands around $77,436. Earnings reach $42,400 at six years and $59,224 at ten, generating a 31 percent earnings premium and a 9-year payback period. Completion at 68.8 percent scores 76, well above the small-private mean. The clear weakness is the 69.4 percent five-year repayment rate, which scores just 38 - a signal that some graduates are struggling to keep up with payments even when earnings outcomes look adequate. Overall, a credible value option for Houston-area Catholic college shoppers.
University of St Thomas
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $34,634/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $34,634/yr |
| Average net price | $19,359/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $77,436 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $59,224 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $42,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $19,928 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $211 |
| Estimated payback period | 9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 68.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 3,220 |
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: $34,634/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $19,359/year, or roughly $77,436 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 $18,441/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $26,086/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $19,928, which works out to about $211 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($42,400) and comes to 0.47, 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 | $18,441 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $17,453 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $17,972 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $21,543 |
| $110,001+ | $26,086 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Lowest-income families pay $18,441 net annually, with the $30,001-$48,000 bracket actually paying slightly less at $17,453 - a mild inversion suggesting institutional aid leverage shifts up by income. Roughly $74,000 over four years is heavy for Pell-eligible students against $42K six-year earnings, although the nursing pipeline meaningfully improves the math for students who land in that program.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income brackets pay $17,453 ($30K-$48K) and $17,972 ($48K-$75K) - both notably lower than the lowest-income tier, an inverted bracket structure worth flagging. The $75K-$110K group pays $21,543.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income families pay $26,086 net annually, or roughly $104K over four years. With median 10-year earnings of $59,224, ROI is meaningfully positive only for graduates of the strongest programs (nursing, accounting).
Earnings by Major
Top 8 most popular majors at University of St Thomas with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $87,401 | B+ |
| Psychology | $44,839 | C |
| Biology | $43,542 | C+ |
| Finance and Financial Management | $47,699 | C |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $61,219 | C+ |
| Marketing | $78,424 | - |
| Accounting | $72,586 | B |
| Communication and Media Studies | $50,859 | - |
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
Registered Nursing is St Thomas's flagship program, with 255 graduates - by far the largest cohort - and remarkable first-year earnings of $83,793 climbing to $87,401 by year four. Median debt of $24,607 against those earnings produces a 0.294 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B+ ROI grade. This is the single program most responsible for the school's overall ROI standing.
Accounting
Accounting graduates 21 students with first-year earnings of $40,398 climbing to $72,586 at four years - a strong post-CPA trajectory. Median debt of $18,000 is unusually low and the 0.446 debt-to-earnings ratio earns a B ROI grade. Houston's energy and corporate finance markets absorb accounting talent at strong wages, particularly for CPA-licensed graduates.
Psychology
Psychology graduates 55 students annually with $37,572 first-year earnings climbing modestly to $44,839 by year four. Median debt of $21,468 produces a 0.571 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C ROI grade. Most strong career paths in psychology require graduate study; undergraduate-only psychology graduates here face a meaningful cost-recovery challenge unless they advance to a master's or doctoral program.
Liberal Arts and Sciences
The Liberal Arts and Sciences cohort of 29 graduates earns $53,187 in year one and $61,219 at four years. Median debt of $25,000 yields a 0.47 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C+ ROI grade. Many graduates likely funnel into law school, education, or graduate programs, with terminal-bachelor earnings adequate but not standout.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 64.6% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 69.4% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 64.6% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 70.7% | 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 | 89.9% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 480-600 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 500-610 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 18-25 |
| Enrollment | 3,220 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 41.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,661 |
St Thomas admits 89.9 percent of applicants - broadly accessible. SAT mid-50 percent ranges run 480-600 in Math and 500-610 in Reading, while ACT Composite spans 18-25. These academic profiles suggest the academic floor is real but selectivity is limited. The 68.8 percent completion rate is strong relative to similarly accessible privates, suggesting that the Catholic-school structure and small enrollment do produce meaningful retention benefits.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
St Thomas's ROI score is 69.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of St Thomas (this school) | 69 | $19,359 | $59,224 |
| Azusa Pacific University | 71 | $22,212 | $66,677 |
| Iona University | 70 | $29,188 | $73,595 |
| Dominican University | 68 | $11,745 | $60,327 |
| Abilene Christian University | 51 | $26,182 | $55,736 |
| Arlington Baptist University | 14 | $24,906 | $44,644 |
Who Thrives Here
St Thomas fits Houston-area Catholic-tradition students seeking a moderate-sized urban private with a strong nursing pipeline. Enrollment is 3,220 undergraduates and Pell rate runs 41.6 percent, indicating a sizable working-class and Hispanic-serving cohort - consistent with Houston's demographic profile. Strongest student outcomes accrue to nursing graduates, with healthcare-bound students benefiting from access to the Texas Medical Center ecosystem. Liberal arts students may find the price-to-outcome math less compelling.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
University of St Thomas is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $19,359 a year after aid ($77,436 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $59,224 a decade out, the cost takes about 9 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 68.8% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings. What to keep an eye on: a three-year loan repayment rate of 69.4% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $19,928 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $42,400 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47, 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, it's a fair-value bet - whether University of St Thomas is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 69/100 on our ROI scale. At $19,359 a year after aid ($77,436 over four years) against $59,224 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 9 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
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 $19,359 a year, or roughly $77,436 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 $59,224 ten years after enrolling, roughly $17,424 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 9 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 $19,928, against average earnings of $42,400 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47. 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 68.8%, 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.