Saint Mary's College of California vs Menlo College: which has better ROI?
Saint Mary's College of California has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $121,512 in 4 years versus 4.4 years at Menlo College, on median earnings of $78,812 vs $76,419 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Saint Mary's College of California | Menlo College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $30,378 | $31,100 |
| Total net cost | $121,512 | $124,400 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $78,812 | $76,419 |
| Median debt | $23,691 | $21,750 |
| Payback | 4 yrs | 4.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $487,528 | $436,780 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Saint Mary's College of California or Menlo College?
Saint Mary's College of California, at $30,378 a year after aid versus $31,100 — a gap of $722 a year, or $2,888 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's College of California or Menlo College graduates earn more?
Saint Mary's College of California graduates report a median $78,812 ten years after entry, $2,393 more than the $76,419 at Menlo 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's College of California or Menlo College?
Menlo College: its completers carry a median $21,750 in federal loans versus $23,691 at Saint Mary's College of California, a difference of $1,941. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
70% of students finish at Saint Mary's College of California, against 54% at Menlo 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.