At $27,934/yr net price, St. John's College graduates earn $51,584/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $17,584/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $27,934 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $111,736 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $51,584/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$17,584/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 6.4 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 67.4% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $27,000 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $21,627/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $16,625/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $24,052/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $25,716/yr |
| $110,001+ | $38,362/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | Certificate | $21,781 | |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | Bachelor | $21,052 | $27,000 |
The Risk Factor
67.4% of students at St. John's College graduate within 6 years. A significant share of students finish, but roughly 33% do not complete their degree.
Analysis
St. John's College in Annapolis gives you a mixed financial picture that leans risky. You pay about $28,000 a year net, and ten years out the median graduate earns $51,584. That earnings figure isn't terrible, but it barely clears what a bachelor's holder needs to justify a private-college price tag, and it comes with roughly $27,000 in median debt.
The program story is stark: St. John's runs one undergraduate track, a great-books liberal arts curriculum. The bachelor-level program data lists earnings of just $21,052 a year against that same $27,000 debt load. There is no engineering, business, or nursing option here to pull earnings up. You are betting everything on one degree, and that degree's early-career pay is low. The gap between that program figure and the $51,584 median suggests earnings climb over the decade, but the early years will be lean.
Your specific risk is concentration. A school with a single humanities-focused program means your financial outcome depends heavily on what you do after graduation, not what you study. The 88 percent retention and 67 percent grad rate say people who start tend to stay, so you're unlikely to pay for years and leave empty-handed.
The net price tiers reward lower-income families sharply. If your family earns under $48,000, you pay roughly $16,600 to $21,600. Over $110,000, the price jumps to $38,362, close to full freight. That middle-income $48,000-$75,000 band pays about $24,000, more than the poorest tier.
St. John's fits you if you want a specific classical education and can either keep debt low or bring family resources to cover the higher tiers. If you need a degree that pays back quickly, look elsewhere. The one program on record earns too little early to make the borrowing safe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is St. John's College worth the cost compared to other schools?
St. John's College graduates earn a median of $51,584 ten years after enrollment, which is below average for the annual cost of attendance. The school's unique Great Books curriculum appeals to specific students, but the financial return doesn't justify the expense for most.
What is the job market like for St. John's College graduates?
St. John's focuses entirely on liberal arts through its Great Books program, which limits direct career preparation. Graduates often need additional training or graduate school to enter specific professions, adding to total education costs.
How much student debt do St. John's College students typically graduate with?
St. John's students graduate with a median debt of $27,000. While this debt level is manageable, the relatively low earning potential of $51,584 creates a challenging debt-to-income ratio for many graduates.
Does St. John's College provide good financial aid to offset costs?
The net price of $27,934 annually suggests limited financial aid impact for most families. With a 67% graduation rate, about one in three students don't complete their degree, making the investment particularly risky.