Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Saint Michael's College #1213 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $10,994 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 18.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Saint Michael's College #853 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Saint Michael's College's composite ranking reflects strong outcomes across multiple dimensions of student success. Graduates achieve meaningful financial results that place the institution among the stronger-performing private four-year institutions in the Azimuth coverage set.
Azimuth ranks Saint Michael's College #1213 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private baccalaureate college in Colchester, Vermont, Saint Michael's College enrolls roughly 1,092 undergraduates. Retention is 79.9% and the six-year graduation rate is 72.8%, reflecting solid persistence and completion outcomes for a residential liberal arts institution. Saint Michael's College delivers meaningful returns on investment, anchored in business and professional programs that connect students to stable career pathways. Azimuth ranks Saint Michael's College #853 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $10,994 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Saint Michael's College in the 18.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The college's strength in Business — which represents a significant share of degree output — aligns with employer demand and contributes to competitive early-career earnings. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Saint Michael's College enrolls 23.7% Pell-eligible students and 11.7% first-generation undergraduates, reflecting a more selective admissions posture typical of private liberal arts colleges. Azimuth ranks Saint Michael's College in the 7.4 percentile for access and the 17.8 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. For families who qualify for need-based aid, the college's financial aid policies work to narrow the gap between sticker price and actual cost, though the starting price point remains higher than at comparable public institutions.
Saint Michael's College's published cost of attendance is $69,079. Need-based aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $12,825, middle-income families pay around $18,384, and higher-income families pay approximately $34,539. Azimuth ranks Saint Michael's College #1172 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Saint Michael's participates in federal need-based aid programs including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, along with institutional aid. The college's aid structure combines need-based scholarships with federal loan options to help bridge the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. Families apply using the FAFSA to determine eligibility for need-based aid. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,922, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $44,383; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $60,903, median federal debt of $26,922 projects to a monthly payment of about $304 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Saint Michael's College is a strong fit for students drawn to business, social sciences, and applied fields who want a private college experience in VT. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $60,903, placing Saint Michael's College in the 46.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $10,994 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Saint Michael's College in the 18.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The aid structure is need-based. For admitted Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 23.7% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 11.7% are first-generation — that structure can meaningfully close the gap between the $34,539 published cost and what families actually pay. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 84.5% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors Business and similar applied fields. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find the earnings trajectory and aid package among the strongest in Northeast.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Saint Michael's College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Saint Michael's College's published cost of attendance is $69,079. Need-based aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $12,825, middle-income families pay around $18,384, and higher-income families pay approximately $34,539.
Azimuth ranks Saint Michael's College #1172 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Saint Michael's participates in federal need-based aid programs including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, along with institutional aid. The college's aid structure combines need-based scholarships with federal loan options to help bridge the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay.
Families apply using the FAFSA to determine eligibility for need-based aid. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,922, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $44,383; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $60,903, median federal debt of $26,922 projects to a monthly payment of about $304 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Saint Michael's College earn median 4-year earnings of $60,903, placing Saint Michael's College in the 46.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $10,994 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Saint Michael's College in the 18.5 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Saint Michael's College #853 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Saint Michael's College's concentration in business and professional fields.
Business Administration is the largest program with 75 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $73,566, performing at 1.1x the national benchmark for the field. The Biology, General program graduates 46 students with median 4-year earnings of $64,203, and Psychology, General graduates 44 with median 4-year earnings of $52,589.
Together, these programs anchor Saint Michael's College's economic profile and reflect the college's emphasis on Business as a primary driver of graduate outcomes.
Economics
15 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
75 graduates
Biology, General
46 graduates
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
5 graduates
Communication and Media Studies
16 graduates
Saint Michael's College's program mix is anchored in business and professional fields, reflecting the institution's liberal arts foundation with applied career focus. Business Administration is the largest program with 75 graduates annually, followed by Biology, General, Psychology, General, Natural Resources Conservation and Research, and English Language and Literature, General.
Across 0 ranked programs, several deliver strong four-year earnings outcomes aligned with regional labor-market demand. The earnings pattern reflects strength in business and applied fields.
Economics leads with median earnings of $82,447 four years after enrollment, followed by Business Administration at $73,566, Biology, General at $64,203, Communication and Media Studies at $59,313, and English Language and Literature, General at $58,137. These programs represent high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the workforce directly and earnings reflect immediate labor-market outcomes.
The concentration of Business — accounting for 20% of degrees — combined with Social Sciences at 12% and Education at 6%, positions Saint Michael's College as a professional-oriented institution with clear workforce alignment. As a private liberal arts college in Vermont, Saint Michael's College graduates roughly 435 students annually across 23 programs.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) framework provides context for how the institution's dominant business and professional program families align with regional and national labor-market demand, particularly in the Northeast.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Edp University Of Puerto Rico Inc-San Sebastian Similar quality tier (#32724 ranked) | PR | 96% | $22,844 | #32724 | Compare |
The University Of Olivet Similar quality tier (#32727 ranked) | MI | 83% | $47,907 | #32727 | Compare |
Wittenberg University Similar quality tier (#32728 ranked) | OH | 72% | $54,947 | #32728 | Compare |
Alaska Pacific University Similar quality tier (#32207 ranked) | AK | 96% | $54,271 | #32207 | Compare |
Arcadia University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#32739 ranked) | PA | 80% | $58,336 | #32739 | Compare |
