St. John's University-New York 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 5.7 years at St. John's University-New York, on median earnings of $62,909 vs $69,571 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | St. John's University-New York | St. Thomas Aquinas College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $29,999 | $19,994 |
| Total net cost | $119,996 | $79,976 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $69,571 | $62,909 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $23,198 |
| Payback | 5.7 yrs | 5.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $304,224 | $211,004 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, St. John's University-New York or St. Thomas Aquinas College?
St. Thomas Aquinas College, at $19,994 a year after aid versus $29,999 — a gap of $10,005 a year, or $40,020 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do St. John's University-New York or St. Thomas Aquinas College graduates earn more?
St. John's University-New York graduates report a median $69,571 ten years after entry, $6,662 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, St. John's University-New York or St. Thomas Aquinas College?
St. Thomas Aquinas College: its completers carry a median $23,198 in federal loans versus $25,000 at St. John's University-New York, 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?
66% of students finish at St. John's University-New York, 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.