Catholic colleges that pay for themselves fastest
Catholic colleges ranked by how many years of extra earnings, above a high school graduate’s, cover four years of net price.
79 schools qualify, ranked by payback years. The top 25 are shown.
How this list is made
- Catholic undergraduate colleges on the Compass. Seminaries and graduate-only schools are not counted.
- Faith grade B or better (Faith score 70 or higher). Cost and outcomes never change a grade.
- Has median earnings ten years after enrolling and a net price from federal data (College Scorecard), and those earnings are above a high school graduate’s ($48,360 a year: median weekly earnings of $930 for full-time workers with a high school diploma, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Payback years = four years of net price ÷ (earnings − a high school graduate’s earnings). Ordered by payback years, fewest first. A simple estimate: it leaves out interest, taxes and earnings growth.
Updated Oct. 12, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- Pays back in about 2.1 years
- Earnings $99,980 ten years out
- 2
University of Detroit Mercy
Detroit, MI · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 2.7 years
- Earnings $71,030 ten years out
- 3
Manhattan University
Riverdale, NY · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 2.9 years
- Earnings $86,316 ten years out
- 4(tie)
Georgetown University
Washington, DC · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 3.0 years
- Earnings $103,494 ten years out
- 4(tie)
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- Pays back in about 3.0 years
- Earnings $103,937 ten years out
- 6(tie)
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- Pays back in about 3.1 years
- Earnings $86,881 ten years out
- 6(tie)
Regis University
Denver, CO · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 3.1 years
- Earnings $72,105 ten years out
- 8
University of San Diego
San Diego, CA · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 3.2 years
- Earnings $86,522 ten years out
- 9(tie)
University of Portland
Portland, OR · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 3.3 years
- Earnings $82,804 ten years out
- 9(tie)
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara, CA · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 3.3 years
- Earnings $109,183 ten years out
- 11
Villanova University
Villanova, PA · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 3.4 years
- Earnings $100,423 ten years out
- 12(tie)
Loyola University Maryland
Baltimore, MD · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 3.6 years
- Earnings $82,652 ten years out
- 12(tie)
Saint Johns University
Collegeville, MN · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 3.6 years
- Earnings $76,786 ten years out
- 14
College of the Holy Cross
Worcester, MA · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 3.7 years
- Earnings $90,543 ten years out
- 15(tie)
Saint Mary's College of California
Moraga, CA · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 4.0 years
- Earnings $78,812 ten years out
- 15(tie)
University of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 4.0 years
- Earnings $89,812 ten years out
- 17
Marquette University
Milwaukee, WI · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 4.2 years
- Earnings $78,257 ten years out
- 18
University of Dayton
Dayton, OH · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 4.3 years
- Earnings $75,537 ten years out
- 19(tie)
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis, MO · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 4.4 years
- Earnings $70,783 ten years out
- 19(tie)
Assumption University
Worcester, MA · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 4.4 years
- Earnings $74,895 ten years out
- 21
Stonehill College
Easton, MA · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 4.5 years
- Earnings $77,745 ten years out
- 22
University of St Thomas
Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 4.6 years
- Earnings $73,739 ten years out
- 23(tie)
Fairfield University
Fairfield, CT · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 4.8 years
- Earnings $88,794 ten years out
- 23(tie)
Fordham University
Bronx, NY · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- Pays back in about 4.8 years
- Earnings $85,569 ten years out
- 23(tie)
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
Winona, MN · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 4.8 years
- Earnings $58,170 ten years out
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Notre Dame | $26,780 | $19,000 | $99,980 | 95% |
| University of Detroit Mercy | $15,232 | $23,250 | $71,030 | 67% |
| Manhattan University | $27,256 | $26,000 | $86,316 | 64% |
| Georgetown University | $40,815 | $15,500 | $103,494 | 95% |
| Boston College | $41,704 | $19,000 | $103,937 | 91% |
| Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia | $29,689 | $25,500 | $86,881 | 79% |
| Regis University | $18,397 | $25,000 | $72,105 | 61% |
| University of San Diego | $30,365 | $22,940 | $86,522 | 84% |
| University of Portland | $28,210 | $21,370 | $82,804 | 80% |
| Santa Clara University | $50,062 | $19,162 | $109,183 | 88% |
| Villanova University | $43,756 | $25,874 | $100,423 | 92% |
| Loyola University Maryland | $30,574 | $27,000 | $82,652 | 79% |
| Saint Johns University | $25,672 | $27,000 | $76,786 | 75% |
| College of the Holy Cross | $38,782 | $27,000 | $90,543 | 87% |
| Saint Mary's College of California | $30,378 | $23,691 | $78,812 | 70% |
| University of San Francisco | $41,431 | $23,000 | $89,812 | 70% |
| Marquette University | $31,487 | $23,940 | $78,257 | 83% |
| University of Dayton | $29,533 | $23,250 | $75,537 | 80% |
| Saint Louis University | $24,398 | $25,000 | $70,783 | 80% |
| Assumption University | $29,498 | $27,000 | $74,895 | 75% |
| Stonehill College | $33,016 | $25,000 | $77,745 | 76% |
| University of St Thomas | $29,155 | $23,250 | $73,739 | 76% |
| Fairfield University | $48,095 | $26,000 | $88,794 | 84% |
| Fordham University | $44,338 | $24,300 | $85,569 | 82% |
| Saint Mary's University of Minnesota | $11,704 | $21,500 | $58,170 | 66% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.