Canisius University vs St. Thomas Aquinas College: which has better ROI?
St. Thomas Aquinas College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $79,976 in 5.5 years versus 5.8 years at Canisius University, on median earnings of $62,909 vs $60,681 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Canisius University | St. Thomas Aquinas College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,940 | $19,994 |
| Total net cost | $71,760 | $79,976 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $60,681 | $62,909 |
| Median debt | $24,250 | $23,198 |
| Payback | 5.8 yrs | 5.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $174,660 | $211,004 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Canisius University or St. Thomas Aquinas College?
Canisius University, at $17,940 a year after aid versus $19,994 — a gap of $2,054 a year, or $8,216 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Canisius University or St. Thomas Aquinas College graduates earn more?
St. Thomas Aquinas College graduates report a median $62,909 ten years after entry, $2,228 more than the $60,681 at Canisius University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Canisius University or St. Thomas Aquinas College?
St. Thomas Aquinas College: its completers carry a median $23,198 in federal loans versus $24,250 at Canisius University, a difference of $1,052. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
66% of students finish at Canisius University, against 54% at St. Thomas Aquinas College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.