Saint Michael's College
Saint Michael's College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Saint Michael's College at a Glance
Saint Michael's College is a private Catholic college in Colchester, Vermont, United States. Founded in 1904 by the Society of Saint Edmund, it grants Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees to about 1,100 undergraduate students and Master's degrees and certificates to about 200 graduate students. Undergraduate housing availability is guaranteed for all four years and 94% of students live on campus.
1904
122 years old
$95M
$95.45 million (2024)
1,323
1,120 undergrad · 203 grad
104
440 acres
Identity
Is Saint Michael's College Worth It?
Saint Michael's College offers moderate value at $25,239/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $61,317, which is near the national average. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.6 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 71% graduation rate means roughly 29% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
How Saint Michael's College compares to peer private nonprofit colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #20 of 108 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Mount Carmel College of Nursing | 100 | $10,420 | $75,103 |
| #2 | Saint Mary's University of Minnesota | 83 | $11,704 | $58,170 |
| #3 | Kalamazoo College | 68 | $19,072 | $65,590 |
| #4 | Albion College | 61 | $14,301 | $58,799 |
| #5 | Clarkson College | 57 | $19,241 | $64,876 |
| #6 | Goldey-Beacom College | 56 | $15,554 | $59,892 |
| #20 | Saint Michael's College | 43 | $25,239 | $61,317 |
Peer group: private nonprofit colleges within ±60% of Saint Michael's College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at Saint Michael's College
The highest-earning program at Saint Michael's College is Political Science and Government at $36,000/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is English Language and Literature, General at $24,500/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Political Science and Government graduate from Saint Michael's College earns $36,000, while a English Language and Literature, General graduate earns $24,500. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Political Science and Government graduates carry $26,500 in median debt vs. $27,000 for English Language and Literature, General.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $25,239/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Political Science and Government | $36,000 | $36,000 | $26,500 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $35,900 | $35,900 | $27,000 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $31,100 | $31,100 | $27,000 |
| Psychology, General | $30,300 | $30,300 | $27,000 |
| History | $30,200 | $30,200 | $27,000 |
| Biology, General | $30,000 | $30,000 | $27,000 |
| Sociology | $25,400 | $25,400 | $27,000 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $24,900 | $24,900 | $27,000 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $24,500 | $24,500 | $27,000 |
Similar Colleges in VT
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- private
- Location
- Colchester, VT
- Student Body
- 1,092 students
- Admission Rate
- 85%
- Graduation Rate
- 71%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $25,239
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $61,317
- Median Student Debt
- $26,922