At $13,980/yr net price, Villa Maria College graduates earn $38,857/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $4,857/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $13,980 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $55,920 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $38,857/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$4,857/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 11.5 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 31.0% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $21,250 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $12,373/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $9,235/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $15,325/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $13,426/yr |
| $110,001+ | $20,940/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services. | Associate | $37,856 | $13,264 |
| Design and Applied Arts. | Bachelor | $31,581 | |
| Graphic Communications. | Bachelor | $22,667 |
The Risk Factor
31.0% of students at Villa Maria 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
Villa Maria College is a financial gamble, and the odds are not in your favor. Ten years out, the median graduate earns $38,857 , barely above what many workers make without any degree. Pair that with a 31% graduation rate, and the math gets ugly fast: most people who enroll here never finish, but the debt and lost time still count.
The program data is a warning. Both bachelor's programs with reported earnings , Design and Applied Arts at $31,581 and Graphic Communications at $22,667 , pay less than the school's overall median. These are the creative fields Villa Maria is built around, and neither clears $32,000 a decade after graduation. Buffalo's job market does not reward these degrees enough to justify borrowing against them. If your plan is a design or graphic arts career, you should expect to earn near the bottom of the college-graduate range.
The debt itself is moderate at $21,250, but that number only applies if you graduate. With a 63% retention rate, roughly one in three of you leaves after the first year, often carrying loans with no degree to show for it. That is the sharpest risk here.
The net price tiers reward the lowest incomes least intuitively: families earning $30k-$48k pay under $9,300, less than families earning under $30k. If your family earns over $110k, you pay the most at nearly $21,000 a year, and the earnings payoff does not support that price.
Villa Maria makes financial sense only if you land aid in the $30k-$48k tier, you are committed to finishing, and you accept a modest salary in a creative field. Everyone else should look elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Villa Maria College worth the cost compared to other schools?
Villa Maria College's low graduation rate of 31% and median earnings of $38,857 after 10 years make it a risky investment. The $21,250 median debt load is reasonable, but many students don't finish their programs.
What are the best paying programs at Villa Maria College?
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services offers the strongest return at $37,856 median earnings. Design and Applied Arts ($31,581) and Graphic Communications ($22,667) show weaker financial outcomes relative to typical college costs.
How much debt do Villa Maria College graduates typically have?
Villa Maria College graduates carry a median debt of $21,250, which is below the national average. However, with low graduation rates and modest earnings, even this debt level can be challenging to repay for many students.
Should I attend Villa Maria College if I get financial aid?
Even with the $13,980 net price after aid, Villa Maria College's 31% graduation rate means most students don't complete their programs. Only consider it if you're committed to Allied Health programs and confident you'll graduate.