Students at Saint Martin's University achieve stronger financial outcomes than graduates of similar institutions, with earnings that place the school in the top tier nationally.
The university's small size and personalized approach help explain why graduates consistently outperform expectations in long-term career success.
Saint Martin's University ranks among the top 20% of institutions nationally for long-term earnings outcomes, delivering solid financial returns in a small, personalized setting. Located in Lacey, Washington, this private Catholic university serves about 40% Pell Grant recipients and 34% first-generation students, yet maintains strong graduation rates and earnings that place it well above national averages. With fewer than 2,000 students, Saint Martin's provides the close-knit community feel that many students seek while still delivering the career outcomes typically associated with larger institutions.
What makes Saint Martin's distinctive is its ability to combine accessibility with results. As a designated "Mobility Engine," the university successfully enrolls students from diverse economic backgrounds and helps them achieve meaningful upward mobility. Graduates earn a median of $62,092 ten years after enrollment, with particularly strong outcomes in engineering fields where the university has built solid regional employer relationships.
The university's small size allows for individualized attention and mentorship that can be especially valuable for first-generation students navigating college and career decisions. While net prices are higher than public alternatives, the combination of strong financial aid, solid graduation rates, and above-average earnings creates a compelling value proposition for families seeking a private university experience with measurable returns on investment.
Saint Martin's University's program portfolio reflects a focused approach to career-oriented education, with particular strength in engineering and business fields. The university's engineering programs consistently deliver strong financial returns, with Civil Engineering graduates earning around $60,623 and Mechanical Engineering students achieving similar success at $57,995 early in their careers. These programs benefit from the university's small scale, which allows for hands-on learning experiences and close faculty mentorship that larger institutions often cannot provide.
Business Administration and Management represents the university's largest program by enrollment, graduating 54 students annually who enter diverse career paths with median earnings around $38,048. While business outcomes are more moderate than engineering, the program's size and breadth provide flexibility for students with varied career interests and help explain the university's broad appeal across different student populations.
The university's small size creates advantages in program quality and career preparation that show up in graduate outcomes. With fewer than 2,000 total students, Saint Martin's can provide individualized attention, research opportunities, and industry connections that help students maximize their potential regardless of their chosen field. This personalized approach helps explain why graduates across programs tend to outperform earnings expectations compared with similar institutions.
Saint Martin's University graduates achieve strong long-term financial outcomes that place the institution in the top 20% nationally for earnings performance. Ten years after enrollment, graduates earn a median of $62,092, with many seeing steady career progression that reflects the university's focus on practical, career-oriented education. The university also delivers earnings beyond expectations, with graduates earning about $1,443 more annually than similar students at comparable institutions, demonstrating the added value of Saint Martin's educational approach and career support services.
Engineering programs drive much of the university's strong earnings performance. Mechanical Engineering, the highest aggregate-return program, graduates 38 students annually who earn around $57,995 early in their careers. Civil Engineering delivers even stronger individual outcomes, with graduates earning approximately $60,623 ten years out. Business Administration and Management represents the largest program by enrollment with 54 graduates, though earnings are more moderate at around $38,048, reflecting the broader range of career paths in business fields.
The university's small scale allows for close faculty mentorship and strong industry connections, particularly in the Pacific Northwest's engineering and technology sectors. This personalized approach helps explain why Saint Martin's graduates consistently outperform earnings expectations, as students benefit from individualized career guidance and networking opportunities that larger institutions often cannot provide.
Saint Martin's University's affordability profile reflects its position as a private institution that works to make education accessible across income levels. Low-income students pay a net price of about $15,233 annually, which represents substantial financial aid support that brings costs well below the sticker price. Middle-income families see net prices around $19,090, while higher-income families pay approximately $29,720, creating a sliding scale that adjusts to family financial capacity.
The university's financial aid approach helps explain why nearly 40% of students qualify for Pell Grants despite the private school setting. Federal student loan debt levels are moderate at a median of $22,500, and Parent PLUS borrowing averages $19,035, both reasonable figures given the earnings outcomes graduates achieve. The combination of need-based aid and merit scholarships helps keep borrowing manageable for most families.
What makes Saint Martin's particularly sustainable financially is the strong earnings trajectory of graduates. With median 10-year earnings of $62,092, most borrowers can comfortably handle standard loan repayment while building financial stability. The university's 0% federal loan default rate indicates that graduates successfully manage their debt obligations, reflecting both the institution's career preparation and the financial viability of the education investment.
Saint Martin's University Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
