Marist 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 5.6 years at Marist University, on median earnings of $62,909 vs $77,819 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Marist University | St. Thomas Aquinas College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $41,544 | $19,994 |
| Total net cost | $166,176 | $79,976 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $77,819 | $62,909 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $23,198 |
| Payback | 5.6 yrs | 5.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $423,004 | $211,004 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Marist University or St. Thomas Aquinas College?
St. Thomas Aquinas College, at $19,994 a year after aid versus $41,544 — a gap of $21,550 a year, or $86,200 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Marist University or St. Thomas Aquinas College graduates earn more?
Marist University graduates report a median $77,819 ten years after entry, $14,910 more than the $62,909 at St. Thomas Aquinas 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, Marist University or St. Thomas Aquinas College?
St. Thomas Aquinas College: its completers carry a median $23,198 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Marist University, a difference of $1,802. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
80% of students finish at Marist 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.