Pace 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 Pace University, on median earnings of $62,909 vs $70,378 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Pace University | St. Thomas Aquinas College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $30,892 | $19,994 |
| Total net cost | $123,568 | $79,976 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $70,378 | $62,909 |
| Median debt | $23,250 | $23,198 |
| Payback | 5.6 yrs | 5.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $316,792 | $211,004 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Pace University or St. Thomas Aquinas College?
St. Thomas Aquinas College, at $19,994 a year after aid versus $30,892 — a gap of $10,898 a year, or $43,592 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Pace University or St. Thomas Aquinas College graduates earn more?
Pace University graduates report a median $70,378 ten years after entry, $7,469 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, Pace University or St. Thomas Aquinas College?
St. Thomas Aquinas College: its completers carry a median $23,198 in federal loans versus $23,250 at Pace University, a difference of $52. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
60% of students finish at Pace 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.