Mount Saint Mary College vs St. Thomas Aquinas College: which has better ROI?
Mount Saint Mary College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $102,088 in 5.3 years versus 5.5 years at St. Thomas Aquinas College, on median earnings of $67,705 vs $62,909 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Mount Saint Mary College | St. Thomas Aquinas College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $25,522 | $19,994 |
| Total net cost | $102,088 | $79,976 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $67,705 | $62,909 |
| Median debt | $26,007 | $23,198 |
| Payback | 5.3 yrs | 5.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $284,812 | $211,004 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Mount Saint Mary College or St. Thomas Aquinas College?
St. Thomas Aquinas College, at $19,994 a year after aid versus $25,522 — a gap of $5,528 a year, or $22,112 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Mount Saint Mary College or St. Thomas Aquinas College graduates earn more?
Mount Saint Mary College graduates report a median $67,705 ten years after entry, $4,796 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, Mount Saint Mary College or St. Thomas Aquinas College?
St. Thomas Aquinas College: its completers carry a median $23,198 in federal loans versus $26,007 at Mount Saint Mary College, a difference of $2,809. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
65% of students finish at Mount Saint Mary College, 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.