Head-to-head comparison
St. Thomas University vs Eckerd College: which has better ROI?
Option A Miami Gardens, FL
St. Thomas University
- Net price / year
- $26,312
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,272
- Payback
- 17.8 yrs
Option B Saint Petersburg, FL
Eckerd College
- Net price / year
- $38,071
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,819
- Payback
- 44 yrs
St. Thomas University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $105,248 in 17.8 years versus 44 years at Eckerd College, on median earnings of $54,272 vs $51,819 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | St. Thomas University | Eckerd College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $26,312 | $38,071 |
| Total net cost | $105,248 | $152,284 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $54,272 | $51,819 |
| Median debt | $19,125 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 17.8 yrs | 44 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $12,992 | -$83,104 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, St. Thomas University or Eckerd College?
St. Thomas University, at $26,312 a year after aid versus $38,071 — a gap of $11,759 a year, or $47,036 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. Thomas University or Eckerd College graduates earn more?
St. Thomas University graduates report a median $54,272 ten years after entry, $2,453 more than the $51,819 at Eckerd 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. Thomas University or Eckerd College?
St. Thomas University: its completers carry a median $19,125 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Eckerd College, a difference of $7,875. 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 Eckerd College, against 48% at St. Thomas 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.