Saint Louis University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Saint Louis University charges a net price of $24,398/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $97,592. Graduates earn a median $70,783 ten years after entry, $22,423/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 4.4 years — a 20-year net return of $350,868, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Saint Louis University's 4.4-year payback ranks #340 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 74% of them, and #7 of 71 in Missouri.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $24,398/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $97,592 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $70,783 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $22,423/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $25,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 4.4 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $350,868 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
How we compute this. Payback = total net cost ÷ annual earnings premium, where the premium is median earnings 10 years after entry minus the $48,360 baseline (BLS 2024 median for a high-school-diploma worker 25+). Total net cost = net price × 4 years. We do not discount future dollars. The institution-wide earnings figure blends every major — a specific program's payback can be far better or worse. Full method on the methodology page.