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Saint Xavier University — ROI, Cost & Payback

Private nonprofit · Chicago, IL · 3,096 students

The verdict

Saint Xavier University charges a net price of $10,970/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $43,880. Graduates earn a median $58,656 ten years after entry, $10,296/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 4.3 years — a 20-year net return of $162,040, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Saint Xavier University's 4.3-year payback ranks #334 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 74% of them, and #10 of 116 in Illinois.

Better ROI than 74% of US colleges#334 of 1,280
Weakest ROIStrongest ROI
$10,970
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$58,656
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
4.3 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
84%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
Saint Xavier University: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$10,970/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$43,880our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$58,656Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$10,296/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$22,223Scorecard, 2026
Payback4.3 yrsour math
20-year net return$162,040our math

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

The arithmetic, on Saint Xavier University's own numbers. Net price $10,970 × 4 years = $43,880 total. Median earnings $58,656 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $10,296 a year of premium. $43,880 ÷ $10,296 = 4.3 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $162,040. 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 Xavier University students graduate with?

A median $22,223 in federal loans among completers, or 38% of the $58,656 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.

What share of Saint Xavier University students graduate?

57% finish their degree — 43% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $43,880 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $76,982 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is Saint Xavier University expensive compared with other Illinois colleges?

Its $10,970 net price runs $2,780 below the $13,750 median across the 116 Illinois colleges we profile, and $11,120 less across the full degree.

Saint Xavier University: frequently asked questions

Is Saint Xavier University worth the cost?
On the numbers, yes. Saint Xavier University charges $10,970/yr after aid ($43,880 over 4 years), and graduates earn a median $58,656 ten years out — $10,296/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. That clears the cost in 4.3 years and returns $162,040 net over 20 years, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast.
How long does a Saint Xavier University degree take to pay off?
About 4.3 years. We divide the $43,880 four-year net cost by the $10,296/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 Xavier University cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $10,970/yr — about $43,880 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does Saint Xavier University compare to other Illinois colleges?
It ranks #10 of 116 Illinois colleges we track by payback. Its $58,656 median earnings beat the national median of $43,549, and its $10,970 net price is below the national median of $16,902.