Head-to-head comparison
Saint Paul College vs Concordia University-Saint Paul: which has better ROI?
Option A Saint Paul, MN
Saint Paul College
- Net price / year
- $11,495
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,399
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Saint Paul, MN
Concordia University-Saint Paul
- Net price / year
- $18,462
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,871
- Payback
- 6.4 yrs
Concordia University-Saint Paul has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $73,848 in 6.4 years versus not at all at Saint Paul College, on median earnings of $59,871 vs $38,399 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Saint Paul College | Concordia University-Saint Paul |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,495 | $18,462 |
| Total net cost | $45,980 | $73,848 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,399 | $59,871 |
| Median debt | $10,925 | $17,832 |
| Payback | — | 6.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$245,200 | $156,372 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Saint Paul College or Concordia University-Saint Paul?
Saint Paul College, at $11,495 a year after aid versus $18,462 — a gap of $6,967 a year, or $27,868 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 Saint Paul College or Concordia University-Saint Paul graduates earn more?
Concordia University-Saint Paul graduates report a median $59,871 ten years after entry, $21,472 more than the $38,399 at Saint Paul 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, Saint Paul College or Concordia University-Saint Paul?
Saint Paul College: its completers carry a median $10,925 in federal loans versus $17,832 at Concordia University-Saint Paul, a difference of $6,907. 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?
46% of students finish at Concordia University-Saint Paul, against 40% at Saint Paul 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.