Head-to-head comparison
Morgan State University vs St. John's College: which has better ROI?
Option A Baltimore, MD
Morgan State University
- Net price / year
- $14,985
- Earnings, 10 years
- $50,698
- Payback
- 25.6 yrs
Option B Annapolis, MD
St. John's College
- Net price / year
- $45,597
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,584
- Payback
- 56.6 yrs
Morgan State University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $59,940 in 25.6 years versus 56.6 years at St. John's College, on median earnings of $50,698 vs $51,584 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Morgan State University | St. John's College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,985 | $45,597 |
| Total net cost | $59,940 | $182,388 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $50,698 | $51,584 |
| Median debt | $27,250 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 25.6 yrs | 56.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$13,180 | -$117,908 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Morgan State University or St. John's College?
Morgan State University, at $14,985 a year after aid versus $45,597 — a gap of $30,612 a year, or $122,448 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 Morgan State University or St. John's College graduates earn more?
St. John's College graduates report a median $51,584 ten years after entry, $886 more than the $50,698 at Morgan State 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, Morgan State University or St. John's College?
St. John's College: its completers carry a median $27,000 in federal loans versus $27,250 at Morgan State University, a difference of $250. 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 41% at Morgan 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.