Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Saint Xavier University #172 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Saint Xavier University sits in the 97.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earn about $22,493 more than similar students at comparable institutions. Azimuth ranks Saint Xavier University #642 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Saint Xavier University's composite ranking reflects a balance of earnings beyond expectations and mobility outcomes that distinguishes it among nonprofit four-year institutions in the Azimuth coverage set. Graduates earn about $22,493 more than similar students at comparable institutions relative to similar students at comparable institutions, and the university's mobility standing underscores its ability to move a diverse, broad-access student body toward durable post-graduation outcomes.
Saint Xavier University is a private university in Chicago, IL, enrolling roughly 3,096 undergraduates. Retention sits at 75.7% and the six-year graduation rate is 56.6%. Azimuth ranks Saint Xavier University #172 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. What anchors the composite is mobility. Saint Xavier University sits in the 56.7 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting strong outcomes for the students it serves. 58.9% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 49.4% are first-generation college students — a broad-access profile that, combined with solid post-graduation earnings for low-income graduates, positions the university as a meaningful pathway to upward economic movement. The dominant program family is Business, and the institution's degree mix feeds directly into career fields with steady local and regional demand. Return on investment is the lower-ranked pillar in the composite — Azimuth ranks Saint Xavier University #240 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions, in the 83.8 percentile. Graduates earn about $22,493 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Saint Xavier University in the 97.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Affordability sits in the 83.2 percentile and access in the 88.6 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, rounding out a composite shaped more by what happens to graduates than by sticker-price competitiveness alone.
Saint Xavier University's published cost of attendance is $43,244, but need-based aid reshapes that figure meaningfully across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $7,572 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $9,715, and higher-income families pay approximately $17,864. Azimuth ranks Saint Xavier University #240 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. As with all net-price figures, these are medians within each income band; individual aid packages vary, so some families pay more and some pay less than the figures shown. Saint Xavier University participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and families apply for need-based assistance using the FAFSA. The gap between sticker price and net price reflects how institutional aid can substantially reduce what families actually pay, though the degree of reduction depends heavily on demonstrated financial need and household income. Families weighing Saint Xavier's affordability should compare net price figures directly rather than relying on the published cost of attendance alone. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $22,223, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $20,742; 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 $66,961, median federal debt of $22,223 projects to a monthly payment of about $251 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Saint Xavier University is a private nonprofit university in Chicago, IL, and a strong fit for students drawn to Business and applied professional fields who want an urban campus with access to Chicago's broad employer base. Graduates earn in the 71.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and Saint Xavier University sits in the 97.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — graduates earn about $22,493 more than similar students at comparable institutions relative to similar students at comparable institutions. The institution enrolls a meaningful share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 58.9% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 49.4% are first-generation — and the net price structure reflects that access orientation. Median student debt at graduation is $22,223, a figure worth weighing against the earnings trajectory when planning for repayment. Fit depends on two realistic filters: program offerings are concentrated in Business and related applied fields, so students whose interests align there will find the strongest outcomes, while those seeking deep STEM or research-intensive tracks may find a better match elsewhere. Admission is broadly accessible, which means the application process is not a barrier for most qualified students.
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
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This is the Saint Xavier University 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 Xavier University's published cost of attendance is $43,244, but need-based aid reshapes that figure meaningfully across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $7,572 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $9,715, and higher-income families pay approximately $17,864.
Azimuth ranks Saint Xavier University #240 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. As with all net-price figures, these are medians within each income band; individual aid packages vary, so some families pay more and some pay less than the figures shown.
Saint Xavier University participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and families apply for need-based assistance using the FAFSA. The gap between sticker price and net price reflects how [institutional aid can substantially reduce what families actually pay](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/), though the degree of reduction depends heavily on demonstrated financial need and household income.
Families weighing Saint Xavier's affordability should compare net price figures directly rather than relying on the published cost of attendance alone. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $22,223, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $20,742; 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 $66,961, median federal debt of $22,223 projects to a monthly payment of about $251 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 Xavier University earn median earnings of $66,961 four years after enrollment, placing Saint Xavier University in the 71.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure sits below the $67,139 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).
Graduates earn about $22,493 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Saint Xavier University in the 97.1 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures still represent lifetime returns relative to IL's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $32,990 (the state median earnings of working adults without a bachelor's degree).
The program-level picture centers on Business, which accounts for 23% of degrees awarded, followed by Education at 6% and Social Sciences at 4%. Nursing combines the largest cohort scale with competitive earnings, making it a central contributor to the institution's overall return profile.
Azimuth ranks Nursing #145 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), with 138 graduates earning median earnings of $87,170. The Business/Commerce, General program graduates 72 students with median earnings of $65,447, and Azimuth ranks Biology, General #175 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 53 graduates earning median earnings of $59,820.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
138 graduates
Finance and Financial Management Services
27 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
21 graduates
Business/Commerce, General
72 graduates
Marketing
35 graduates
Saint Xavier University's program mix is anchored in Business, with applied professional fields forming the core of its degree output. Business accounts for 23% of graduates, followed by Education at 6% and Social Sciences at 4% — a concentration that reflects the institution's orientation toward career-ready, workforce-aligned disciplines.
Across 23 programs serving roughly 681 students annually, 14 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold. Nursing combines the largest cohort with strong earnings, making it the program that contributes most to Saint Xavier University's overall financial profile.
The Nursing program graduates 138 students annually with median earnings of $87,170 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks the program #145 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Nursing delivers the highest four-year earnings at Saint Xavier University at $87,170, with Azimuth ranking the program #145 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Business/Commerce, General follows with median earnings of $65,447 and a national rank of #39 per [how Azimuth evaluates programs](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). Business/Commerce, General (72 graduates, $65,447 median earnings) and Biology, General (53 graduates, $59,820 median earnings) round out the largest programs and represent pathways where four-year earnings may undercount lifetime trajectory, since a meaningful share of graduates in these fields continue to graduate or professional school.
The business and health-oriented programs, by contrast, channel graduates more directly into the workforce, where four-year earnings better reflect labor-market outcomes. The [supply-demand map for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides additional context for how these fields align with national hiring trends. ```
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Illinois Institute Of Technology Similar quality tier in Midwest (#4345 ranked) | IL | 55% | $82,592 | #4345 | Compare |
University Of The Pacific Similar quality tier (#4338 ranked) | CA | 71% | $78,445 | #4338 | Compare |
Mount Saint Mary's University Similar quality tier (#4337 ranked) | CA | 73% | $72,379 | #4337 | Compare |
Holy Family University Similar quality tier (#4348 ranked) | PA | 71% | $62,235 | #4348 | Compare |
Wake Forest University Similar quality tier (#4334 ranked) | NC | 22% | $78,158 | #4334 | Compare |
