Students at St Catherine University achieve earnings that place the institution in the top quarter nationally, with particularly strong outcomes for low-income and first-generation students.
The university's focus on health sciences and career-oriented programs creates clear pathways to stable, well-paying careers that justify the private university investment.
St Catherine University is a private nonprofit institution in Saint Paul, Minnesota, that consistently delivers above-average earnings outcomes while maintaining strong support for students from diverse backgrounds. The university ranks in the 75th percentile nationally for long-term earnings, with graduates earning a median of $59,282 ten years after enrollment. What makes St Catherine particularly noteworthy is its designation as a "Mobility Engine" — an institution that combines meaningful access for low-income and first-generation students with strong upward mobility outcomes.
Nearly 36% of students receive Pell Grants, and about 29% are first-generation college students, yet the university maintains solid graduation rates and delivers earnings that exceed expectations by over $3,000 compared with similar institutions. This performance reflects St Catherine's focused mission in health sciences, nursing, and allied health fields, where graduates enter stable, growing career markets with clear advancement pathways.
As a medium-sized private university, St Catherine offers the personalized attention and support systems that help students succeed, particularly those who might struggle at larger institutions. The combination of strong career outcomes, reasonable debt levels, and genuine commitment to student success makes it an attractive option for families seeking both academic quality and financial sustainability.
St Catherine University's program portfolio centers on health sciences and allied health fields, creating clear pathways into stable, growing career markets. Adult Health Nursing stands out as both the largest program with 148 graduates and a top performer with median earnings of $68,029. This combination of scale and outcomes makes nursing the university's primary economic engine, reflecting strong employer demand and the program's reputation in the Twin Cities healthcare market.
Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment Professions delivers the highest individual earnings at $69,338, though with smaller cohorts of 33 graduates. This program exemplifies St Catherine's ability to prepare students for specialized healthcare roles that command premium salaries. Even programs with more moderate earnings, like Behavioral Aspects of Health at $34,467 for 71 graduates, provide stable career foundations in growing fields like public health, health education, and community wellness.
The concentration in health sciences reflects both market demand and institutional expertise. Healthcare fields offer immediate job security, clear advancement pathways, and earnings that grow over time. St Catherine's clinical partnerships, hands-on training approach, and location in the Twin Cities healthcare corridor position graduates effectively for both entry-level success and long-term career development.
Graduates of St Catherine University achieve strong long-term financial outcomes, with median earnings of $59,282 ten years after enrollment. This places the university in the 75th percentile nationally for earnings performance, reflecting its focus on career-oriented programs that lead directly into stable, well-paying fields. Graduates earn about $3,082 more than similar students at comparable institutions, demonstrating the university's ability to add meaningful value beyond what would be expected based on student characteristics alone.
The university's strongest returns come from its health sciences programs, which dominate the academic portfolio. Adult Health Nursing graduates 148 students annually with median earnings of $68,029, making it both the largest and highest-returning program. Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment Professions produces smaller cohorts of 33 graduates but delivers the highest individual earnings at $69,338. Even programs like Behavioral Aspects of Health, which serves 71 students with more moderate earnings of $34,467, provide stable career pathways in growing healthcare sectors.
This program concentration in health sciences explains much of St Catherine's earnings advantage. Healthcare fields offer both immediate job security and long-term growth potential, with many graduates entering roles that provide steady advancement opportunities. The university's career-focused approach, combined with strong clinical partnerships and hands-on training, helps students transition effectively from classroom to workplace, contributing to the consistent earnings performance across programs.
St Catherine University maintains reasonable affordability despite its private status, with net prices that vary significantly by family income level. Low-income students pay about $17,519 annually, while middle-income families see costs around $19,862 per year. High-income families face higher net prices of approximately $26,483, but even at this level, costs remain manageable compared with many private institutions of similar quality and outcomes.
The university's financial aid approach appears particularly effective for students who need the most support. The relatively modest gap between low-income and middle-income net prices suggests that St Catherine provides substantial grant aid to make attendance feasible for families across the economic spectrum. This pricing structure aligns with the university's mission to serve first-generation and Pell-eligible students while maintaining the resources necessary to deliver strong academic programs and career outcomes.
What makes St Catherine especially sustainable financially is the balance between upfront costs and long-term returns. While families do pay private university prices, graduates typically earn enough to justify the investment, particularly in the university's core health sciences programs where starting salaries and career advancement potential remain strong.
St Catherine University Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
