Head-to-head comparison
Rollins College vs St. Thomas University: which has better ROI?
Option A Winter Park, FL
Rollins College
- Net price / year
- $34,732
- Earnings, 10 years
- $58,295
- Payback
- 14 yrs
Option B Miami Gardens, FL
St. Thomas University
- Net price / year
- $26,312
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,272
- Payback
- 17.8 yrs
Rollins College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $138,928 in 14 years versus 17.8 years at St. Thomas University, on median earnings of $58,295 vs $54,272 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Rollins College | St. Thomas University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $34,732 | $26,312 |
| Total net cost | $138,928 | $105,248 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $58,295 | $54,272 |
| Median debt | $25,500 | $19,125 |
| Payback | 14 yrs | 17.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $59,772 | $12,992 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Rollins College or St. Thomas University?
St. Thomas University, at $26,312 a year after aid versus $34,732 — a gap of $8,420 a year, or $33,680 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 Rollins College or St. Thomas University graduates earn more?
Rollins College graduates report a median $58,295 ten years after entry, $4,023 more than the $54,272 at St. Thomas 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, Rollins College or St. Thomas University?
St. Thomas University: its completers carry a median $19,125 in federal loans versus $25,500 at Rollins College, a difference of $6,375. 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?
75% of students finish at Rollins College, against 48% at St. Thomas 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.