Catholic colleges that pay for themselves fastest in New York
Catholic colleges ranked by how many years of extra earnings, above a high school graduate’s, cover four years of net price.
Catholic colleges that pay for themselves fastest in New York8 schools
8 schools qualify, ranked by payback years.
How this list is made
- Schools in New York.
- 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. 8, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Manhattan University
Riverdale, NY · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 2.9 years
- Earnings $86,316 ten years out
- 2
Fordham University
Bronx, NY · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- Pays back in about 4.8 years
- Earnings $85,569 ten years out
- 3
Siena College
Loudonville, NY · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 4.9 years
- Earnings $76,079 ten years out
- 4
St. John's University-New York
Queens, NY · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- Pays back in about 5.7 years
- Earnings $69,571 ten years out
- 5
Canisius University
Buffalo, NY · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 5.8 years
- Earnings $60,681 ten years out
- 6
Le Moyne College
Syracuse, NY · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 6.2 years
- Earnings $62,731 ten years out
- 7
Niagara University
Niagara University, NY · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 8.8 years
- Earnings $56,196 ten years out
- 8
St. Bonaventure University
Saint Bonaventure, NY · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 12.2 years
- Earnings $57,214 ten years out
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manhattan University | $27,256 | $26,000 | $86,316 | 64% |
| Fordham University | $44,338 | $24,300 | $85,569 | 82% |
| Siena College | $33,733 | $26,561 | $76,079 | 75% |
| St. John's University-New York | $29,999 | $25,000 | $69,571 | 66% |
| Canisius University | $17,940 | $24,250 | $60,681 | 66% |
| Le Moyne College | $22,277 | $23,000 | $62,731 | 73% |
| Niagara University | $17,248 | $25,475 | $56,196 | 75% |
| St. Bonaventure University | $27,074 | $26,000 | $57,214 | 67% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.