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Saint Michael's College — ROI, Cost & Payback

Private nonprofit · Colchester, VT · 1,092 students

The verdict

Saint Michael's College charges a net price of $25,239/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $100,956. Graduates earn a median $61,317 ten years after entry, $12,957/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 7.8 years — a 20-year net return of $158,184, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Saint Michael's College's 7.8-year payback ranks #679 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 47% of them, and #4 of 9 in Vermont.

Better ROI than 47% of US colleges#679 of 1,280
Weakest ROIStrongest ROI
$25,239
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$61,317
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
7.8 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
85%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
Saint Michael's College: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$25,239/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$100,956our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$61,317Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$12,957/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$26,922Scorecard, 2026
Payback7.8 yrsour math
20-year net return$158,184our math

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

The arithmetic, on Saint Michael's College's own numbers. Net price $25,239 × 4 years = $100,956 total. Median earnings $61,317 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $12,957 a year of premium. $100,956 ÷ $12,957 = 7.8 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $158,184. 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 Michael's College students graduate with?

A median $26,922 in federal loans among completers, or 44% of the $61,317 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.

What share of Saint Michael's College students graduate?

73% finish their degree. Spread the $100,956 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $138,296 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is Saint Michael's College expensive compared with other Vermont colleges?

Its $25,239 net price runs $0 above the $25,239 median across the 9 Vermont colleges we profile, or $0 more across the full degree.

Saint Michael's College: frequently asked questions

Is Saint Michael's College worth the cost?
On the numbers, yes. Saint Michael's College charges $25,239/yr after aid ($100,956 over 4 years), and graduates earn a median $61,317 ten years out — $12,957/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. That clears the cost in 7.8 years and returns $158,184 net over 20 years, a solid payback.
How long does a Saint Michael's College degree take to pay off?
About 7.8 years. We divide the $100,956 four-year net cost by the $12,957/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 Michael's College cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $25,239/yr — about $100,956 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does Saint Michael's College compare to other Vermont colleges?
It ranks #4 of 9 Vermont colleges we track by payback. Its $61,317 median earnings beat the national median of $43,549, and its $25,239 net price is above the national median of $16,902.