Head-to-head · 2026
Inver Hills Community College vs Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
Compare average net price ($11,636 at Inver Hills Community College; $11,704 at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota), ROI score (10.72 vs 12.43), school-wide ten-year median earnings ($49,898 vs $58,170), and admissions context (Open / not reported at Inver Hills Community College; 92.8% at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota) using federal College Scorecard data. The table keeps affordability, outcomes, access and program fit separate rather than declaring one universal winner.
Face to face
Metric-by-metric comparison
13 metrics, side by side. Color marks a useful directional signal; admissions, SAT, tuition eligibility, ownership and enrollment stay neutral.
| Metric | Inver Hills Community College | Saint Mary's University of Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| ROI score (school-wide) | 10.72 | 12.43 ✓ |
| Avg net price | $11,636 ✓ | $11,704 |
| 4-year avg net price | $46,544 ✓ | $46,816 |
| In-state tuition | $6,146 | $45,080 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $6,146 | $45,080 |
| School-wide earnings (10y) | $49,898 | $58,170 ✓ |
| Acceptance rate | Open / not reported | 92.8% |
| Graduation rate | 23.8% | 66% ✓ |
| Retention rate | 56.2% | 74.6% ✓ |
| Median debt | $13,965 ✓ | $21,500 |
| Enrollment | 2,193 | 1,073 |
| Ownership | Public | Private Non-Profit |
| Avg SAT | — | — |
Cost by family income
Reported net price by income band
Federal averages for students receiving Title IV aid. These are context, not a substitute for either school's financial-aid offer.
| Income band | Inver Hills Community College | Saint Mary's University of Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Family income $0–30k | $9,373 ✓ | $16,182 |
| Family income $30–48k | $10,062 ✓ | $15,175 |
| Family income $48–75k | $11,168 ✓ | $15,030 |
| Family income $75–110k | $13,787 ✓ | $14,771 |
| Family income $110k+ | $16,272 | $6,135 ✓ |
Program fit
Shared fields with reported awards
Award share is the share of reported credentials in a field, not the share of currently enrolled students.
| Shared field | Inver Hills Community College | Saint Mary's University of Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 2.3% | 16.8% |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 12.6% | 2.6% |
| Education, General | 0.4% | 9.9% |
| Social Work | 0.7% | 4.6% |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 3.6% | 0.9% |
| Accounting and Related Services | 1.1% | 3.1% |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 0.3% | 3.7% |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | 2% | 0.5% |
Decision readout
What the differences mean
Inver Hills Community College reports the lower average net price by $68 per year. Holding today's averages constant, that is a $272 difference over four years ($46,544 vs $46,816).
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota reports $8,272 higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry ($58,170 vs $49,898). This is not earnings for a specific major.
First-year retention is 56.2% at Inver Hills Community College and 74.6% at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. Median federal debt among completers is $13,965 vs $21,500, respectively.
8 of the strongest shared fields with positive award-share data are listed below. Award share describes reported credentials in a field, not the percentage of currently enrolled students.
Keep comparing
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Frequently asked
Inver Hills Community College vs Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, answered
3 of the most common questions, with real numbers from federal data.
Which school costs less after aid?
Inver Hills Community College is cheaper — average net price $11,636 per year vs $11,704 at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. The annual difference of $68 adds up to about $272 over four years.
Which school reports higher earnings?
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota reports higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry: $58,170 vs $49,898 at Inver Hills Community College. The gap in the federal data is $8,272. This is not major-specific earnings.
Is there an overall winner?
No single metric makes either school the universal winner. Compare your actual aid offers, residency tuition, intended major, graduation and retention rates, debt, location and campus fit. EduGradify keeps these trade-offs separate instead of combining admissions selectivity and test scores into a final verdict.