Saint Mary-Of-The-Woods College provides access to higher education for many first-generation and low-income students who might not otherwise attend college.
However, graduates face modest earnings outcomes and high debt levels relative to their post-graduation income potential.
Saint Mary-Of-The-Woods College serves a distinctive niche as a small private college in Indiana, though it faces significant challenges in delivering strong financial outcomes for graduates. The institution enrolls a substantial share of first-generation and Pell-eligible students, with over 50% receiving Pell Grants and nearly 40% being first-generation college students, reflecting its commitment to access.
However, the college struggles with affordability and return on investment. Net prices are high across all income levels, ranging from about $40,812 for low-income students to $46,639 for higher-income families. Graduates earn a median of $43,845 ten years after enrollment, which places the institution in the bottom half nationally for earnings outcomes.
The college's mobility outcomes are particularly concerning, with low-income students earning just $28,900 ten years out—significantly below what similar students achieve at other institutions. This combination of high costs and modest earnings places Saint Mary-Of-The-Woods in the "Under-Resourced Institutions" category, indicating that while it provides access to higher education, it struggles to convert that access into strong economic mobility for its graduates.
Saint Mary-Of-The-Woods College's academic portfolio centers heavily on education and human services, reflecting its mission-driven approach to higher education. The college's standout program is Education/Teaching of Individuals Who are Developmentally Delayed, which represents the largest economic impact among its offerings by combining meaningful enrollment with the college's specialized focus on special education.
This concentration in education reflects both the college's historical mission and the career interests of its student body, but it also explains the modest earnings outcomes graduates experience. Education careers, while personally rewarding and socially important, typically offer more limited financial returns compared to fields like business, technology, or healthcare that drive stronger earnings at other institutions.
The college's small size means it cannot offer the breadth of high-earning programs found at larger institutions, and its focus on mission-driven careers means students should expect their financial returns to be secondary to the personal satisfaction and social impact of their chosen fields. For students drawn to education and human services, Saint Mary-Of-The-Woods provides specialized preparation, though families should carefully consider the financial implications of this career path given the college's high costs.
Saint Mary-Of-The-Woods College graduates face challenging long-term financial outcomes. Ten years after enrollment, graduates earn a median of $43,845, which falls well below national averages for four-year college graduates. The college's earnings performance ranks in the 41st percentile nationally, meaning most similar institutions deliver stronger financial returns for their students.
The college's primary academic strength appears to be in education, particularly special education programs. The largest program by total economic impact is Education/Teaching of Individuals Who are Developmentally Delayed, which graduates about 28 students annually with median earnings of $32,925 ten years out. While this reflects the college's mission-driven focus on preparing teachers and human services professionals, these fields typically offer more modest financial returns compared to business, technology, or healthcare programs.
The limited program diversity and concentration in lower-earning fields helps explain why graduates earn less than expected compared with students at similar institutions. For students whose primary goal is maximizing long-term earnings potential, Saint Mary-Of-The-Woods may not provide the strongest return on investment, though it may serve students well who are drawn to education and service-oriented careers where financial rewards are secondary to personal fulfillment and social impact.
Saint Mary-Of-The-Woods College presents significant affordability challenges across all income levels. Low-income students face net prices of about $40,812 annually, while middle-income families pay around $44,117, and higher-income families see costs reach $46,639. These prices place the college in the bottom 1.2% nationally for affordability, meaning it is more expensive than nearly all comparable institutions.
The high sticker prices create substantial debt burdens for most students. Typical graduates leave with about $19,512 in federal student loan debt, and families often supplement with Parent PLUS loans averaging $15,081. While the college reports a 0% federal loan default rate, this may reflect the types of careers graduates enter rather than their ability to comfortably service debt given their modest earnings levels.
For many families, the combination of high net prices and modest post-graduation earnings creates a challenging financial equation. The college's affordability profile suggests it works best for families who can cover a substantial portion of costs without heavy borrowing, or for students whose career goals align strongly enough with the college's mission that they're willing to accept higher debt levels relative to expected earnings.
Saint Mary-Of-The-Woods College Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
