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Saint Mary's College — ROI, Cost & Payback

Private nonprofit · Notre Dame, IN · 1,458 students

The verdict

Saint Mary's College charges a net price of $25,292/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $101,168. Graduates earn a median $59,354 ten years after entry, $10,994/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 9.2 years — a 20-year net return of $118,712, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Saint Mary's College's 9.2-year payback ranks #752 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 41% of them, and #15 of 56 in Indiana.

Better ROI than 41% of US colleges#752 of 1,280
Weakest ROIStrongest ROI
$25,292
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$59,354
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
9.2 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
76%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
Saint Mary's College: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$25,292/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$101,168our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$59,354Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$10,994/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$27,000Scorecard, 2026
Payback9.2 yrsour math
20-year net return$118,712our math

College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.

How we compute this. Payback = total net cost ÷ annual earnings premium, where the premium is median earnings 10 years after entry minus the $48,360 baseline (BLS 2024 median for a high-school-diploma worker 25+). Total net cost = net price × 4 years. We do not discount future dollars. The institution-wide earnings figure blends every major — a specific program's payback can be far better or worse. Full method on the methodology page.

Saint Mary's College: frequently asked questions

Is Saint Mary's College worth the cost?
On the numbers, yes. Saint Mary's College charges $25,292/yr after aid ($101,168 over 4 years), and graduates earn a median $59,354 ten years out — $10,994/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. That clears the cost in 9.2 years and returns $118,712 net over 20 years, a solid payback.
How long does a Saint Mary's College degree take to pay off?
About 9.2 years. We divide the $101,168 four-year net cost by the $10,994/yr earnings premium over the high-school baseline. It is a floor, not a ceiling — mid-career raises pay it back faster.
How much does Saint Mary's College cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $25,292/yr — about $101,168 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does Saint Mary's College compare to other Indiana colleges?
It ranks #15 of 56 Indiana colleges we track by payback. Its $59,354 median earnings beat the national median of $43,552, and its $25,292 net price is above the national median of $16,906.