The College of Saint Scholastica
The College of Saint Scholastica — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
The College of Saint Scholastica at a Glance
The College of St. Scholastica (CSS) is a private Benedictine college in Duluth, Minnesota, United States. It was founded in 1912 by a group of Benedictine Sisters and enrolled about 3,000 students as of 2023. The college offers a liberal arts education and is located on 186 wooded acres overlooking Lake Superior. Saint Scholastica was a Christian hermit traditionally regarded as the founder of the Benedictine nuns.
1912
114 years old
$96M
$95.6 million (2025)
2,822
1,744 undergrad · 1,078 grad
186 acres
Identity
Is The College of Saint Scholastica Worth It?
At a value score of 39/100, The College of Saint Scholastica is a below-average value relative to its cost. Graduates earn $65,934 — 23% above average — while paying $27,846/year. Consider alternatives with better earnings-to-cost ratios.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.7 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 66% graduation rate means roughly 34% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
With a 93% acceptance rate, admission is essentially open — the question isn't whether you'll get in, but whether the investment will pay off.
Bottom line: consider whether the specific program you're interested in at The College of Saint Scholastica has outcomes that justify the cost — the institution-wide numbers suggest caution.
How The College of Saint Scholastica compares to peer private nonprofit colleges of similar tier in MN
Ranked #36 of 111 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 | Saint Mary's University of Minnesota | 83 | $11,704 | $58,170 |
| #2 | Christian Brothers University | 81 | $9,854 | $57,478 |
| #3 | Saint Peter's University | 72 | $12,199 | $57,815 |
| #4 | Trinity Washington University | 67 | $9,302 | $53,804 |
| #5 | Niagara University | 59 | $17,248 | $56,196 |
| #6 | Valparaiso University | 58 | $18,578 | $63,191 |
| #36 | The College of Saint Scholastica | 39 | $27,846 | $65,934 |
Peer group: private nonprofit colleges within ±60% of The College of Saint Scholastica's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 7 in MN.
Best Programs at The College of Saint Scholastica
The highest-earning program at The College of Saint Scholastica is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at $64,100/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Biology, General at $24,900/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduate from The College of Saint Scholastica earns $64,100, while a Biology, General graduate earns $24,900. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduates carry $18,749 in median debt vs. $25,426 for Biology, General.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $27,846/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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $64,100 | $64,100 | $18,749 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $56,100 | $56,100 | $24,372 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $47,300 | $47,300 | $25,434 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $46,100 | $46,100 | $23,336 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $43,800 | $43,800 | $18,783 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $42,900 | $42,900 | $22,701 |
| Social Work | $40,500 | $40,500 | $19,775 |
| Marketing | $37,700 | $37,700 | $20,625 |
| Psychology, General | $30,500 | $30,500 | $24,000 |
| Biology, General | $24,900 | $24,900 | $25,426 |
Similar Colleges in MN
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- private
- Location
- Duluth, MN
- Student Body
- 1,765 students
- Admission Rate
- 93%
- Graduation Rate
- 66%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $27,846
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $65,934
- Median Student Debt
- $20,000