Goucher College vs St. John's College: which has better ROI?
Goucher College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $89,880 in 19.3 years versus 56.6 years at St. John's College, on median earnings of $53,023 vs $51,584 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Goucher College | St. John's College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $22,470 | $45,597 |
| Total net cost | $89,880 | $182,388 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $53,023 | $51,584 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 19.3 yrs | 56.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $3,380 | -$117,908 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Goucher College or St. John's College?
Goucher College, at $22,470 a year after aid versus $45,597 — a gap of $23,127 a year, or $92,508 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Goucher College or St. John's College graduates earn more?
Goucher College graduates report a median $53,023 ten years after entry, $1,439 more than the $51,584 at St. John's College. 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, Goucher College or St. John's College?
Goucher College: its completers carry a median $26,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at St. John's College, a difference of $1,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
71% of students finish at St. John's College, against 57% at Goucher 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.