Head-to-head comparison
St Catherine University vs The College of Saint Scholastica: 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 Duluth, MN
The College of Saint Scholastica
- Net price / year
- $27,846
- Earnings, 10 years
- $65,934
- Payback
- 6.3 yrs
The College of Saint Scholastica has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $111,384 in 6.3 years versus 7.2 years at St Catherine University, on median earnings of $65,934 vs $59,282 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | St Catherine University | The College of Saint Scholastica |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,764 | $27,846 |
| Total net cost | $79,056 | $111,384 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $59,282 | $65,934 |
| Median debt | $24,181 | $20,000 |
| Payback | 7.2 yrs | 6.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $139,384 | $240,096 |
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 The College of Saint Scholastica?
St Catherine University, at $19,764 a year after aid versus $27,846 — a gap of $8,082 a year, or $32,328 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 The College of Saint Scholastica graduates earn more?
The College of Saint Scholastica graduates report a median $65,934 ten years after entry, $6,652 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 The College of Saint Scholastica?
The College of Saint Scholastica: its completers carry a median $20,000 in federal loans versus $24,181 at St Catherine University, a difference of $4,181. 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 The College of Saint Scholastica, against 61% at St Catherine 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.