Head-to-head comparison
Frostburg State University vs St. John's College: which has better ROI?
Option A Frostburg, MD
Frostburg State University
- Net price / year
- $16,715
- Earnings, 10 years
- $55,493
- Payback
- 9.4 yrs
Option B Annapolis, MD
St. John's College
- Net price / year
- $45,597
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,584
- Payback
- 56.6 yrs
Frostburg State University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $66,860 in 9.4 years versus 56.6 years at St. John's College, on median earnings of $55,493 vs $51,584 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Frostburg State University | St. John's College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,715 | $45,597 |
| Total net cost | $66,860 | $182,388 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $55,493 | $51,584 |
| Median debt | $21,105 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 9.4 yrs | 56.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $75,800 | -$117,908 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Frostburg State University or St. John's College?
Frostburg State University, at $16,715 a year after aid versus $45,597 — a gap of $28,882 a year, or $115,528 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Frostburg State University or St. John's College graduates earn more?
Frostburg State University graduates report a median $55,493 ten years after entry, $3,909 more than the $51,584 at St. John's 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Frostburg State University or St. John's College?
Frostburg State University: its completers carry a median $21,105 in federal loans versus $27,000 at St. John's College, a difference of $5,895. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
71% of students finish at St. John's College, against 50% at Frostburg State University. 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.