Skip to content
degreedividend.
ROI calculator
Independent college researchBuilt on federal dataNo rankings for sale

Head-to-head comparison

St. John's University-New York vs St. Thomas Aquinas College: which has better ROI?

Private nonprofit, Queens NY · vs · Private nonprofit, Sparkill NY

By the Degree Dividend editorial data teamEvery figure verified against its federal source — methodologyData updated June 2026

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 Sparkill, NY

St. Thomas Aquinas College

Net price / year
$19,994
Earnings, 10 years
$62,909
Payback
5.5 yrs
The verdict

St. Thomas Aquinas College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $79,976 in 5.5 years versus 5.7 years at St. John's University-New York, on median earnings of $62,909 vs $69,571 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

Share
Head to head
MeasureSt. John's University-New YorkSt. Thomas Aquinas College
Net price / yr$29,999$19,994
Total net cost$119,996$79,976
Median earnings, 10 yrs$69,571$62,909
Median debt$25,000$23,198
Payback5.7 yrs5.5 yrs
20-year net return$304,224$211,004

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 St. Thomas Aquinas College?

St. Thomas Aquinas College, at $19,994 a year after aid versus $29,999 — a gap of $10,005 a year, or $40,020 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 St. Thomas Aquinas College graduates earn more?

St. John's University-New York graduates report a median $69,571 ten years after entry, $6,662 more than the $62,909 at St. Thomas Aquinas 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, St. John's University-New York or St. Thomas Aquinas College?

St. Thomas Aquinas College: its completers carry a median $23,198 in federal loans versus $25,000 at St. John's University-New York, a difference of $1,802. 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?

66% of students finish at St. John's University-New York, against 54% at St. Thomas Aquinas 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.

St. John's University-New York vs St. Thomas Aquinas College: frequently asked questions

Is St. John's University-New York or St. Thomas Aquinas College a better value?
St. Thomas Aquinas College. It clears its $79,976 net cost in about 5.5 years versus 5.7 years at St. John's University-New York, on median earnings of $62,909 vs $69,571 ten years out.
Which is cheaper, St. John's University-New York or St. Thomas Aquinas College?
St. Thomas Aquinas College: $19,994/yr net price after aid versus $29,999/yr at St. John's University-New York — a difference of $10,005 a year, or about $40,020 over four years.
Do St. John's University-New York or St. Thomas Aquinas College graduates earn more?
St. John's University-New York graduates earn a median $69,571 ten years after entry, versus $62,909 at St. Thomas Aquinas College — a $6,662 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.