At $13,021/yr net price, St Luke's College graduates earn $61,033/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $27,033/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $13,021 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $52,084 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $61,033/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$27,033/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 1.9 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 33.3% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $15,000 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $8,623/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $21,818/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Associate | $50,856 | $13,000 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Associate | $39,585 | $13,000 |
The Risk Factor
33.3% of students at St Luke's College graduate within 6 years. Fewer than half of students complete their degree. If you don't graduate, the financial investment may not pay off.
Analysis
St Luke's College gives you a solid financial return with one serious catch. You leave with median debt of $15,000 and earn around $61,000 a decade out, so your debt-to-earnings ratio sits well under one year of pay. For a private nonprofit, that debt load is low, and the earnings clear the wage you'd expect from a health-focused program in the Sioux City region.
The catch is the graduation rate. Only one in three students finishes. If you're part of the two-thirds who don't graduate, you carry whatever debt you took on without the credential that produces the $61,000 payoff. That's the single biggest financial risk here, and it outweighs any concern about price.
The net price also swings hard with your family income. At $48,000 to $75,000 you pay $8,623 a year. Move up to the $75,000 to $110,000 band and it more than doubles to $21,818. If your family sits in that upper bracket, run the full four-year cost before committing, because you're paying roughly $13,000 more per year than a family one tier down.
This school fits you if you're confident you'll finish and you're targeting the health careers it's built around. The low debt and strong earnings make it a reasonable bet for a determined student in the lower income tier paying $8,623. If you're uncertain about completing a program, or your family lands in the higher-price band without aid to offset it, weigh a lower-cost public alternative first. The earnings are real only if you graduate.
I can't speak to which specific majors pay off, since no program-level salary data was provided. If you have that data, I can add that section.Frequently Asked Questions
Is St Luke's College worth the cost for nursing students?
St Luke's College offers strong value for nursing majors, with graduates earning $50,856 annually and relatively low debt at $15,000 median. The low net price of $13,021 per year makes it one of the more affordable nursing programs in Iowa.
What is the job market like for St Luke's College graduates?
St Luke's College graduates earn $61,033 on average 10 years after graduation, which is solid for a specialized health sciences school. However, the 33% graduation rate means many students don't finish their programs.
How much debt do St Luke's College students typically graduate with?
St Luke's College students graduate with a median debt of $15,000, which is relatively low compared to national averages. The manageable debt load helps improve the overall return on investment for graduates who complete their programs.
Are non-nursing programs at St Luke's College worth the investment?
Allied health programs at St Luke's College lead to lower earnings at $39,585 annually, making the ROI less attractive than nursing tracks. Students should carefully consider career prospects before enrolling in non-nursing programs.