St.
Andrews University opens its doors to students who might not otherwise access higher education, serving nearly half Pell Grant recipients and many first-generation college students.
However, families should carefully consider the significant financial challenges, including high costs and modest post-graduation earnings that create long-term debt burdens.
St. Andrews University is a small private nonprofit institution in Laurinburg, North Carolina, serving about 48% Pell Grant recipients and 37% first-generation college students. The university provides broad access to higher education, particularly for students from lower-income backgrounds who might not otherwise attend college. However, the financial outcomes present significant challenges that prospective families should understand clearly.
Graduates earn a median of $45,606 ten years after enrollment, which places the institution in the bottom 15% nationally for long-term earnings. The university's completion rates are also concerning, with only about 27% of students graduating within six years and 42% completing their degrees within eight years. These outcomes reflect the substantial challenges facing both the institution and its student body.
While St. Andrews provides access to higher education for students who need it most, the combination of high costs, modest earnings, and low completion rates creates a difficult financial equation. Families considering this institution should carefully weigh the value of the small college experience against the significant financial risks involved.
St. Andrews University operates as a small liberal arts institution, but specific program-level data is limited in our analysis. The university's modest size and broad liberal arts focus means it lacks the specialized professional programs that typically drive higher post-graduation earnings. With only 24 graduates earning more than $75,000 annually across all programs, the institution produces relatively few high-earning alumni regardless of field of study.
The absence of detailed program performance data suggests that St. Andrews may not have standout academic areas that significantly outperform the overall institutional outcomes. For students considering this institution, the choice should be based primarily on fit with the small college environment and educational philosophy rather than expectations of strong financial returns from specific academic programs.
St. Andrews University graduates face challenging financial outcomes that require careful consideration. Ten years after enrollment, graduates earn a median of $45,606, placing the institution among the lowest-performing colleges nationally for long-term earnings. The university's return on investment ranks in the bottom 15% of all institutions, reflecting the substantial gap between what students invest and what they ultimately earn.
The limited program data available suggests that St. Andrews operates as a small liberal arts institution without the specialized professional programs that typically drive higher earnings. With only 24 graduates earning more than $75,000 annually, the university produces relatively few high-earning alumni. The modest earnings levels, combined with the significant debt burdens most students carry, create a challenging financial trajectory that can take many years to overcome.
For students who do complete their degrees, the path to financial stability requires careful planning and realistic expectations about post-graduation earning potential.
St. Andrews University presents significant affordability challenges across all income levels. Low-income students face net prices around $35,861 annually, while middle-income families pay approximately $31,578, and higher-income families see costs of about $34,745. These prices place the institution in the bottom 5% nationally for affordability, making it one of the most expensive options relative to typical family resources.
The debt burden compounds these affordability concerns substantially. Typical graduates leave with about $25,250 in federal student loan debt, and families often take on an additional $17,094 in Parent PLUS loans. Combined, these debt levels create monthly payment obligations that can strain budgets for years after graduation, particularly given the modest earnings levels most graduates achieve.
While the university reports a 0% federal loan default rate, this figure doesn't capture the full picture of financial stress that graduates may experience. The combination of high upfront costs and limited earning potential creates a challenging financial equation that requires families to plan carefully and consider all available alternatives.
St. Andrews University Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
