Head-to-head comparison
St Olaf College vs Concordia University-Saint Paul: which has better ROI?
Option A Northfield, MN
St Olaf College
- Net price / year
- $23,874
- Earnings, 10 years
- $65,543
- Payback
- 5.6 yrs
Option B Saint Paul, MN
Concordia University-Saint Paul
- Net price / year
- $18,462
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,871
- Payback
- 6.4 yrs
St Olaf College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $95,496 in 5.6 years versus 6.4 years at Concordia University-Saint Paul, on median earnings of $65,543 vs $59,871 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | St Olaf College | Concordia University-Saint Paul |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,874 | $18,462 |
| Total net cost | $95,496 | $73,848 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $65,543 | $59,871 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $17,832 |
| Payback | 5.6 yrs | 6.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $248,164 | $156,372 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, St Olaf College or Concordia University-Saint Paul?
Concordia University-Saint Paul, at $18,462 a year after aid versus $23,874 — a gap of $5,412 a year, or $21,648 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 Olaf College or Concordia University-Saint Paul graduates earn more?
St Olaf College graduates report a median $65,543 ten years after entry, $5,672 more than the $59,871 at Concordia University-Saint Paul. 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 Olaf College or Concordia University-Saint Paul?
Concordia University-Saint Paul: its completers carry a median $17,832 in federal loans versus $26,000 at St Olaf College, a difference of $8,168. 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?
84% of students finish at St Olaf College, against 46% at Concordia University-Saint Paul. 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.