Head-to-head comparison
Marian University vs Saint Mary's College: which has better ROI?
Option A Indianapolis, IN
Marian University
- Net price / year
- $24,018
- Earnings, 10 years
- $58,759
- Payback
- 9.2 yrs
Option B Notre Dame, IN
Saint Mary's College
- Net price / year
- $25,292
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,354
- Payback
- 9.2 yrs
Saint Mary's College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $101,168 in 9.2 years versus 9.2 years at Marian University, on median earnings of $59,354 vs $58,759 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Marian University | Saint Mary's College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,018 | $25,292 |
| Total net cost | $96,072 | $101,168 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $58,759 | $59,354 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 9.2 yrs | 9.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $111,908 | $118,712 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Marian University or Saint Mary's College?
Marian University, at $24,018 a year after aid versus $25,292 — a gap of $1,274 a year, or $5,096 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 Marian University or Saint Mary's College graduates earn more?
Saint Mary's College graduates report a median $59,354 ten years after entry, $595 more than the $58,759 at Marian University. 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, Marian University or Saint Mary's College?
Completers at both borrow a median $27,000, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
69% of students finish at Saint Mary's College, against 67% at Marian 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.