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St Lawrence University — ROI, Cost & Payback

Private nonprofit · Canton, NY · 1,918 students

The verdict

St Lawrence University charges a net price of $28,651/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $114,604. Graduates earn a median $67,258 ten years after entry, $18,898/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 6.1 years — a 20-year net return of $263,356, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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St Lawrence University's 6.1-year payback ranks #533 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 58% of them, and #61 of 203 in New York.

Better ROI than 58% of US colleges#533 of 1,280
Weakest ROIStrongest ROI
$28,651
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$67,258
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
6.1 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
54%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
St Lawrence University: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$28,651/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$114,604our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$67,258Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$18,898/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$27,000Scorecard, 2026
Payback6.1 yrsour math
20-year net return$263,356our math

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

The arithmetic, on St Lawrence University's own numbers. Net price $28,651 × 4 years = $114,604 total. Median earnings $67,258 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $18,898 a year of premium. $114,604 ÷ $18,898 = 6.1 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $263,356. 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 St Lawrence University students graduate with?

A median $27,000 in federal loans among completers, or 40% of the $67,258 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.

What share of St Lawrence University students graduate?

79% finish their degree. Spread the $114,604 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $145,068 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is St Lawrence University expensive compared with other New York colleges?

Its $28,651 net price runs $9,738 above the $18,913 median across the 203 New York colleges we profile, or $38,952 more across the full degree.

St Lawrence University: frequently asked questions

Is St Lawrence University worth the cost?
On the numbers, yes. St Lawrence University charges $28,651/yr after aid ($114,604 over 4 years), and graduates earn a median $67,258 ten years out — $18,898/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. That clears the cost in 6.1 years and returns $263,356 net over 20 years, a solid payback.
How long does a St Lawrence University degree take to pay off?
About 6.1 years. We divide the $114,604 four-year net cost by the $18,898/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 St Lawrence University cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $28,651/yr — about $114,604 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does St Lawrence University compare to other New York colleges?
It ranks #61 of 203 New York colleges we track by payback. Its $67,258 median earnings beat the national median of $43,549, and its $28,651 net price is above the national median of $16,902.