Saint Ambrose University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Saint Ambrose University charges a net price of $24,691/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $98,764. Graduates earn a median $59,531 ten years after entry, $11,171/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 8.8 years — a 20-year net return of $124,656, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Saint Ambrose University's 8.8-year payback ranks #733 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 43% of them, and #11 of 47 in Iowa.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $24,691/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $98,764 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $59,531 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $11,171/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $25,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 8.8 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $124,656 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Saint Ambrose University's own numbers. Net price $24,691 × 4 years = $98,764 total. Median earnings $59,531 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $11,171 a year of premium. $98,764 ÷ $11,171 = 8.8 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $124,656. 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 Saint Ambrose University students graduate with?
A median $25,000 in federal loans among completers, or 42% of the $59,531 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Saint Ambrose University students graduate?
61% finish their degree — 39% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $98,764 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $161,908 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Saint Ambrose University expensive compared with other Iowa colleges?
Its $24,691 net price runs $6,102 above the $18,589 median across the 47 Iowa colleges we profile, or $24,408 more across the full degree.