Head-to-head comparison
St. John's University-New York vs Marist University: which has better ROI?
Option A Queens, NY
St. John's University-New York
- Net price / year
- $29,999
- Earnings, 10 years
- $69,571
- Payback
- 5.7 yrs
Option B Poughkeepsie, NY
Marist University
- Net price / year
- $41,544
- Earnings, 10 years
- $77,819
- Payback
- 5.6 yrs
Marist University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $166,176 in 5.6 years versus 5.7 years at St. John's University-New York, on median earnings of $77,819 vs $69,571 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | St. John's University-New York | Marist University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $29,999 | $41,544 |
| Total net cost | $119,996 | $166,176 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $69,571 | $77,819 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 5.7 yrs | 5.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $304,224 | $423,004 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, St. John's University-New York or Marist University?
St. John's University-New York, at $29,999 a year after aid versus $41,544 — a gap of $11,545 a year, or $46,180 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. John's University-New York or Marist University graduates earn more?
Marist University graduates report a median $77,819 ten years after entry, $8,248 more than the $69,571 at St. John's University-New York. 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. John's University-New York or Marist University?
Completers at both borrow a median $25,000, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
80% of students finish at Marist University, against 66% at St. John's University-New York. 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.