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University of Saint Mary — ROI, Cost & Payback

Private nonprofit · Leavenworth, KS · 925 students

The verdict

University of Saint Mary charges a net price of $22,519/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $90,076. Graduates earn a median $59,483 ten years after entry, $11,123/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 8.1 years — a 20-year net return of $132,384, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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University of Saint Mary's 8.1-year payback ranks #699 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 45% of them, and #4 of 57 in Kansas.

Better ROI than 45% of US colleges#699 of 1,280
Weakest ROIStrongest ROI
$22,519
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$59,483
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
8.1 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
87%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
University of Saint Mary: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$22,519/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$90,076our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$59,483Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$11,123/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$22,018Scorecard, 2026
Payback8.1 yrsour math
20-year net return$132,384our math

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

The arithmetic, on University of Saint Mary's own numbers. Net price $22,519 × 4 years = $90,076 total. Median earnings $59,483 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $11,123 a year of premium. $90,076 ÷ $11,123 = 8.1 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $132,384. 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 University of Saint Mary students graduate with?

A median $22,018 in federal loans among completers, or 37% of the $59,483 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.

What share of University of Saint Mary students graduate?

48% finish their degree — 52% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $90,076 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $187,658 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is University of Saint Mary expensive compared with other Kansas colleges?

Its $22,519 net price runs $7,239 above the $15,280 median across the 57 Kansas colleges we profile, or $28,956 more across the full degree.

University of Saint Mary: frequently asked questions

Is University of Saint Mary worth the cost?
On the numbers, yes. University of Saint Mary charges $22,519/yr after aid ($90,076 over 4 years), and graduates earn a median $59,483 ten years out — $11,123/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. That clears the cost in 8.1 years and returns $132,384 net over 20 years, a solid payback.
How long does a University of Saint Mary degree take to pay off?
About 8.1 years. We divide the $90,076 four-year net cost by the $11,123/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 University of Saint Mary cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $22,519/yr — about $90,076 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does University of Saint Mary compare to other Kansas colleges?
It ranks #4 of 57 Kansas colleges we track by payback. Its $59,483 median earnings beat the national median of $43,549, and its $22,519 net price is above the national median of $16,902.