Head-to-head comparison
St Catherine University vs Hamline University: which has better ROI?
Option A Saint Paul, MN
St Catherine University
- Net price / year
- $19,764
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,282
- Payback
- 7.2 yrs
Option B Saint Paul, MN
Hamline University
- Net price / year
- $20,744
- Earnings, 10 years
- $61,106
- Payback
- 6.5 yrs
Hamline University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $82,976 in 6.5 years versus 7.2 years at St Catherine University, on median earnings of $61,106 vs $59,282 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | St Catherine University | Hamline University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,764 | $20,744 |
| Total net cost | $79,056 | $82,976 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $59,282 | $61,106 |
| Median debt | $24,181 | $23,770 |
| Payback | 7.2 yrs | 6.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $139,384 | $171,944 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, St Catherine University or Hamline University?
St Catherine University, at $19,764 a year after aid versus $20,744 — a gap of $980 a year, or $3,920 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 St Catherine University or Hamline University graduates earn more?
Hamline University graduates report a median $61,106 ten years after entry, $1,824 more than the $59,282 at St Catherine 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, St Catherine University or Hamline University?
Hamline University: its completers carry a median $23,770 in federal loans versus $24,181 at St Catherine University, a difference of $411. 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?
61% of students finish at St Catherine University, against 60% at Hamline 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.