Head-to-head comparison
Stetson University vs St. Thomas University: which has better ROI?
Option A DeLand, FL
Stetson University
- Net price / year
- $19,372
- Earnings, 10 years
- $51,642
- Payback
- 23.6 yrs
Option B Miami Gardens, FL
St. Thomas University
- Net price / year
- $26,312
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,272
- Payback
- 17.8 yrs
St. Thomas University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $105,248 in 17.8 years versus 23.6 years at Stetson University, on median earnings of $54,272 vs $51,642 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Stetson University | St. Thomas University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,372 | $26,312 |
| Total net cost | $77,488 | $105,248 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $51,642 | $54,272 |
| Median debt | $23,250 | $19,125 |
| Payback | 23.6 yrs | 17.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$11,848 | $12,992 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Stetson University or St. Thomas University?
Stetson University, at $19,372 a year after aid versus $26,312 — a gap of $6,940 a year, or $27,760 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 Stetson University or St. Thomas University graduates earn more?
St. Thomas University graduates report a median $54,272 ten years after entry, $2,630 more than the $51,642 at Stetson 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, Stetson University or St. Thomas University?
St. Thomas University: its completers carry a median $19,125 in federal loans versus $23,250 at Stetson University, a difference of $4,125. 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?
62% of students finish at Stetson University, 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.