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Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster

Private nonprofit Lancaster, PA · Rural · Mid-Atlantic · 93% data
A+ Earnings A- Selectivity B- Graduation
Graduation Rate
68% B-
Solid completion rate — most students graduate
Earnings (10yr)
$86,881 A+
Top 3% nationally — exceptional earning power
Net Price
$42,478 F
148% more than the typical college
Acceptance Rate
41% A-
Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Earnings +113% vs avg
Graduation +19% vs avg
Net Price 148% vs avg

Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 14.6× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $14.6 over 20 years.

14.6× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $14.6 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $2,314,466.

What The Data Says

  1. A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

  2. Graduates earn 113% more than the national college median.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $14.6 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

About Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster

Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Private Special-Focus Institution
Carnegie Class
Special Focus
Enrollment
1,280
Setting
Rural
Designations
30
Primary Strengths
Health Professions

Why students choose Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster

Exceptional earning outcomes
Graduate earnings in the top 3% of colleges
Strength in Health Professions
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C+
Top 43% overall
A+
Earnings
$86,881 median
C-
Value
2.0× net price
F
Affordability
$42,478/yr net
B-
Graduation
68% graduate
A-
Selectivity
41% admit rate
C
Diversity
0.58 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

With an enrollment of 1,280 students, Saint Joseph's University in Lancaster is a good fit for those looking for a close-knit learning environment. The school stands out in health professions, making it an appealing choice for students interested in careers in healthcare. With a 41% acceptance rate, it strikes a balance between accessibility and selectivity, welcoming students who are motivated to make a difference in the world of health.

After graduation, students can expect to earn an average of $86,881 within ten years. This figure is significant because it reflects the potential for a solid return on investment, especially in the health professions sector. While we don't have mobility data, this earning potential suggests that graduates tend to find their footing in the job market fairly well. Affordability is also a concern, but with a 55% Pell Grant rate, many students receive financial support to help them pursue their degrees.

At Saint Joseph's University, the net price after aid comes to $42,478, which can feel daunting. However, the median debt of $25,500 is manageable, particularly when considering the earnings graduates can expect. Students who thrive here are often those who are passionate about health and service, ready to embrace the challenges and opportunities that come with a career in the healthcare field.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a private institution in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 41%. The graduation rate is roughly 68%.

Acceptance Rate
41%
Retention Rate
81%
Full-Time Faculty
73%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$8,255
Student–Faculty Ratio
13:1
Diversity Index
0.58
First-Gen Students
18%
Applicants
593
Admitted
271

Can I Afford It?

What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.

Cost & Financial Aid

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster is $32,933, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $42,478. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $37,532 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,500 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$32,933
Out-of-State
$32,933
Avg Net Price
$42,478
Median Debt
$25,500
Pell Grant Rate
55%
Federal Loan Rate
53%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$37,532
Family Income $30K–$48K
$38,376
Family Income $48K–$75K
$41,420
Family Income $110K+
$47,879

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Students Like You

Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster earn a median of $86,881, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.

6 Years After Entry
$66,438
8 Years
$76,633
10 Years
$86,881
Debt-to-Earnings
0.29x
Earning > $25K
85%

Earnings Trajectory

$66,438 6yr $76,633 8yr $86,881 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (1)
100%
100% (1)
100%
100% (1)
100%
100% (1)
100%

How Saint Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation68%Earnings 10yr$87KNet Price$42KRetention81%Median Debt$26KPell Grant Rate55%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$38K$0-30K$38K$30-48K$41K$48-75K$48K$110K+

College ROI Calculator

Is Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $42,478/year ($169,912 total). Graduates earn $86,881 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $2,484,378 in total earnings — a net gain of $2,314,466 (14.6× your investment). The median debt is $25,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 68% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$169,912
Projected 20yr Earnings
$2,484,378
Net Return
$2,314,466
ROI Multiple
14.6×
Cost Per Year
$42,478
Median Debt
$25,500
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
68%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Federal Grants
$1,483,023
Investment Income
$-619,782

Top Programs

The fields Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.

Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.

Top Careers

Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a private institution in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 41%. The graduation rate is roughly 68%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster is $32,933, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $42,478. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $37,532 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,500 in federal student loans.

Is Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster earn a median of $86,881, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.

Similar Schools

Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster.

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

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The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

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