College of Saint Mary — ROI, Cost & Payback
College of Saint Mary charges a net price of $16,590/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $66,360. Graduates earn a median $54,338 ten years after entry, $5,978/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 11.1 years — a 20-year net return of $53,200, a slow but positive payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
College of Saint Mary's 11.1-year payback ranks #833 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 35% of them, and #9 of 27 in Nebraska.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $16,590/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $66,360 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $54,338 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $5,978/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $24,250 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 11.1 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $53,200 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on College of Saint Mary's own numbers. Net price $16,590 × 4 years = $66,360 total. Median earnings $54,338 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $5,978 a year of premium. $66,360 ÷ $5,978 = 11.1 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $53,200. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do College of Saint Mary students graduate with?
A median $24,250 in federal loans among completers, or 45% of the $54,338 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of College of Saint Mary students graduate?
61% finish their degree — 39% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $66,360 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $108,787 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is College of Saint Mary expensive compared with other Nebraska colleges?
Its $16,590 net price runs $960 below the $17,550 median across the 27 Nebraska colleges we profile, and $3,840 less across the full degree.