Head-to-head comparison
Trine University vs Saint Mary's College: which has better ROI?
Option A Angola, IN
Trine University
- Net price / year
- $25,355
- Earnings, 10 years
- $57,165
- Payback
- 11.5 yrs
Option B Notre Dame, IN
Saint Mary's College
- Net price / year
- $25,292
- Earnings, 10 years
- $59,354
- Payback
- 9.2 yrs
Saint Mary's College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $101,168 in 9.2 years versus 11.5 years at Trine University, on median earnings of $59,354 vs $57,165 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Trine University | Saint Mary's College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $25,355 | $25,292 |
| Total net cost | $101,420 | $101,168 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $57,165 | $59,354 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 11.5 yrs | 9.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $74,680 | $118,712 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Trine University or Saint Mary's College?
Saint Mary's College, at $25,292 a year after aid versus $25,355 — a gap of $63 a year, or $252 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 Trine University or Saint Mary's College graduates earn more?
Saint Mary's College graduates report a median $59,354 ten years after entry, $2,189 more than the $57,165 at Trine 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, Trine University or Saint Mary's College?
Trine University: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Saint Mary's College, a difference of $2,000. 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?
69% of students finish at Saint Mary's College, against 64% at Trine 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.