Degree Dividend
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Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College vs Calumet College of Saint Joseph: which has better ROI?

Private nonprofit, Saint Mary of the Woods IN · vs · Private nonprofit, Whiting IN

By the Degree Dividend editorial data teamEvery figure verified against its federal source — methodologyData updated June 2026

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Calumet College of Saint Joseph comes closer — median earnings $46,945 against a $89,804 total, vs $43,845 at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureSaint Mary-of-the-Woods CollegeCalumet College of Saint Joseph
Net price / yr$31,872$22,451
Total net cost$127,488$89,804
Median earnings, 10 yrs$43,845$46,945
Median debt$19,512$21,534
Payback——
20-year net return-$217,788-$118,104

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College or Calumet College of Saint Joseph?

Calumet College of Saint Joseph, at $22,451 a year after aid versus $31,872 — a gap of $9,421 a year, or $37,684 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College or Calumet College of Saint Joseph graduates earn more?

Calumet College of Saint Joseph graduates report a median $46,945 ten years after entry, $3,100 more than the $43,845 at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods 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, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College or Calumet College of Saint Joseph?

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College: its completers carry a median $19,512 in federal loans versus $21,534 at Calumet College of Saint Joseph, a difference of $2,022. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

47% of students finish at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, against 23% at Calumet College of Saint Joseph. 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.

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College vs Calumet College of Saint Joseph: frequently asked questions

Is Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College or Calumet College of Saint Joseph a better value?
Calumet College of Saint Joseph comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College or Calumet College of Saint Joseph?
Calumet College of Saint Joseph: $22,451/yr net price after aid versus $31,872/yr at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College — a difference of $9,421 a year, or about $37,684 over four years.
Do Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College or Calumet College of Saint Joseph graduates earn more?
Calumet College of Saint Joseph graduates earn a median $46,945 ten years after entry, versus $43,845 at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College — a $3,100 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.