Mount Saint Mary's University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Mount Saint Mary's University charges a net price of $21,413/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $85,652. Graduates earn a median $72,379 ten years after entry, $24,019/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 3.6 years — a 20-year net return of $394,728, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Mount Saint Mary's University's 3.6-year payback ranks #241 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 81% of them, and #52 of 334 in California.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $21,413/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $85,652 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $72,379 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $24,019/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $25,949 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 3.6 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $394,728 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Mount Saint Mary's University's own numbers. Net price $21,413 × 4 years = $85,652 total. Median earnings $72,379 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $24,019 a year of premium. $85,652 ÷ $24,019 = 3.6 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $394,728. 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 Mount Saint Mary's University students graduate with?
A median $25,949 in federal loans among completers, or 36% of the $72,379 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Mount Saint Mary's University students graduate?
53% finish their degree — 47% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $85,652 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $161,608 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Mount Saint Mary's University expensive compared with other California colleges?
Its $21,413 net price runs $1,508 above the $19,905 median across the 334 California colleges we profile, or $6,032 more across the full degree.