St Olaf College vs Saint Mary's University of Minnesota: which has better ROI?
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $46,816 in 4.8 years versus 5.6 years at St Olaf College, on median earnings of $58,170 vs $65,543 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | St Olaf College | Saint Mary's University of Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,874 | $11,704 |
| Total net cost | $95,496 | $46,816 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $65,543 | $58,170 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $21,500 |
| Payback | 5.6 yrs | 4.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $248,164 | $149,384 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, St Olaf College or Saint Mary's University of Minnesota?
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, at $11,704 a year after aid versus $23,874 — a gap of $12,170 a year, or $48,680 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 Olaf College or Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates earn more?
St Olaf College graduates report a median $65,543 ten years after entry, $7,373 more than the $58,170 at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. 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 Olaf College or Saint Mary's University of Minnesota?
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota: its completers carry a median $21,500 in federal loans versus $26,000 at St Olaf College, a difference of $4,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
84% of students finish at St Olaf College, against 66% at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. 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.