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Saint Peter's University logo
Private nonprofit Jersey City, NJ · Urban · Mid-Atlantic · 100% data
A+ Social Mobility A Diversity B+ Earnings
Graduation Rate
61% C+
About half of students who start complete their degree
Earnings (10yr)
$57,815 B+
Well above the typical college graduate
Net Price
$12,199 B-
29% less than the typical college
Acceptance Rate
90% D+
Accessible to most qualified applicants
Earnings +42% vs avg
Graduation +7% vs avg
Net Price +-29% vs avg
Mobility Top 2%

Bottom line: A B overall grade — strong outcomes across the board. 36.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $36.2 over 20 years. Ranked #2 in Best Psychology Colleges in New Jersey.

36.2× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $36.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,720,010.

What The Data Says

  1. A B overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.

  2. Earnings 42% above the national college median.

  3. Social mobility rate of 5.50% — an engine of upward economic mobility.

  4. Every $1 invested returns $36.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why Saint Peter's University Matters

Saint Peter's University is a private university in Jersey City, NJ and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.

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

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Private University
Carnegie Class
Master's University
Enrollment
2,135
Setting
Urban
Designations
HSI · 30
Primary Strengths
Business & Marketing, Psychology, Health Professions, Computer Science & IT

Why students choose Saint Peter's University

Strong STEM core
A heavy concentration in technical fields
Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Engine of upward mobility
A strong record of moving students up the income ladder

CollegeRanker Report Card

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

B
Top 25% overall
B+
Earnings
$57,815 median
B+
Value
4.7× net price
B-
Affordability
$12,199/yr net
C+
Graduation
61% graduate
A+
Social Mobility
5.5% climb Q1→Q5
D+
Selectivity
90% admit rate
A
Diversity
0.75 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 about 2,135 students, Saint Peter's University in Jersey City, New Jersey, is a great fit for those looking for a supportive community and a diverse range of studies. Students here often dive into programs like Business & Marketing, Psychology, and Health Professions. The 90% acceptance rate suggests that the university values inclusivity, welcoming a variety of backgrounds and experiences.

When we look at what happens after graduation, the numbers reflect a positive trajectory for many students. Graduates earn an average of $57,815 within ten years of completing their degrees, which is a solid outcome. The affordability of a Saint Peter's education is also notable, with a net price of $12,199 after aid, making it manageable for most students. This combination of reasonable costs and decent earning potential sets a favorable stage for life after college.

Financially, students graduate with a median debt of $20,500, which is relatively low compared to many other institutions. This manageable debt load, along with a diverse student body, often leads to a thriving community of individuals who support each other in their academic and professional endeavors. Whether you're drawn to a career in Criminal Justice or the sciences, this environment encourages growth and success for its students.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Saint Peter's University 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 Peter's University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Saint Peter's University, located in Jersey City, New Jersey, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 90%. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 23. The graduation rate is roughly 61%.

Acceptance Rate
90%
Retention Rate
72%
ACT Midpoint
23
Full-Time Faculty
31%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$9,476
Student–Faculty Ratio
11:1
Diversity Index
0.75
First-Gen Students
48%
Applicants
2,999
Admitted
2,664

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 Peter's University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Saint Peter's University is $42,552, 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 $12,199. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,783 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $20,500 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$42,552
Out-of-State
$42,552
Avg Net Price
$12,199
Median Debt
$20,500
Pell Grant Rate
52%
Federal Loan Rate
29%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$10,783
Family Income $30K–$48K
$10,643
Family Income $48K–$75K
$9,952
Family Income $110K+
$21,829

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 Peter's University — 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 Peter's University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Saint Peter's University earn a median of $57,815, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

6 Years After Entry
$42,470
8 Years
$51,554
10 Years
$57,815
Debt-to-Earnings
0.35x
Earning > $25K
65%

Earnings Trajectory

$42,470 6yr $51,554 8yr $57,815 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (245)
42%
100% (245)
42%
100% (245)
42%
100% (245)
42%

How Saint Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation61%Earnings 10yr$58KNet Price$12KRetention72%Median Debt$21KPell Grant Rate52%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$11K$0-30K$11K$30-48K$10K$48-75K$22K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%20.5%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%26.9%MOBILITY5.50%

College ROI Calculator

Is Saint Peter's University Worth It?

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

Yes — for most students, Saint Peter's University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $12,199/year ($48,796 total). Graduates earn $57,815 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,768,806 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,720,010 (36.2× your investment). The median debt is $20,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 61% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$48,796
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,768,806
Net Return
$1,720,010
ROI Multiple
36.2×
Cost Per Year
$12,199
Median Debt
$20,500
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
61%

Does It Change Lives?

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

Social Mobility

Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records

Does Saint Peter's University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Saint Peter's University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 5.50%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 20.5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 26.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $59,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
5.50%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
26.9%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
20.5%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$81,111
today's $ (2015 cohort data)

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Saint Peter's University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Saint Peter's University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.63, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.63
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
0.02
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
4.4%
Support Ratio
0.99
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Investment Income
$-5,271,071

Top Programs

The fields Saint Peter's University 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Saint Peter's University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Saint Peter's University, located in Jersey City, New Jersey, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 90%. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 23. The graduation rate is roughly 61%.

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

Published tuition at Saint Peter's University is $42,552, 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 $12,199. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,783 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $20,500 in federal student loans.

Is Saint Peter's University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Saint Peter's University earn a median of $57,815, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

Does Saint Peter's University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Saint Peter's University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 5.50%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 20.5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 26.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $59,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is Saint Peter's University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Saint Peter's University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.63, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

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Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Saint Peter's University.

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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