Saint Paul College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Saint Paul College charges a net price of $11,495/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $45,980. Median earnings ten years after entry are $38,399, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Saint Paul College does not clear its cost — it ranks #61 of 68 Minnesota colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $11,495/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $45,980 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $38,399 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$9,961/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $10,925 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$245,200 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Saint Paul College's own numbers. Net price $11,495 × 4 years = $45,980 total. Median earnings $38,399 fall $9,961 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $45,980 bill in about 4.6 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Saint Paul College students graduate with?
A median $10,925 in federal loans among completers, or 28% of the $38,399 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Saint Paul College students graduate?
40% finish their degree — 60% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $45,980 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $114,950 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Saint Paul College expensive compared with other Minnesota colleges?
Its $11,495 net price runs $5,326 below the $16,821 median across the 68 Minnesota colleges we profile, and $21,302 less across the full degree.