Head-to-head comparison
Marist University vs Mount Saint Mary College: which has better ROI?
Option A Poughkeepsie, NY
Marist University
- Net price / year
- $41,544
- Earnings, 10 years
- $77,819
- Payback
- 5.6 yrs
Option B Newburgh, NY
Mount Saint Mary College
- Net price / year
- $25,522
- Earnings, 10 years
- $67,705
- Payback
- 5.3 yrs
Mount Saint Mary College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $102,088 in 5.3 years versus 5.6 years at Marist University, on median earnings of $67,705 vs $77,819 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Marist University | Mount Saint Mary College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $41,544 | $25,522 |
| Total net cost | $166,176 | $102,088 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $77,819 | $67,705 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $26,007 |
| Payback | 5.6 yrs | 5.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $423,004 | $284,812 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Marist University or Mount Saint Mary College?
Mount Saint Mary College, at $25,522 a year after aid versus $41,544 — a gap of $16,022 a year, or $64,088 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 Marist University or Mount Saint Mary College graduates earn more?
Marist University graduates report a median $77,819 ten years after entry, $10,114 more than the $67,705 at Mount Saint Mary 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, Marist University or Mount Saint Mary College?
Marist University: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $26,007 at Mount Saint Mary College, a difference of $1,007. 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?
80% of students finish at Marist University, against 65% at Mount Saint Mary 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.