Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia at a Glance
Saint Joseph's University is a private Jesuit university in Philadelphia and Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania, United States. The university was founded by the Society of Jesus in 1851 as Saint Joseph's College, named after Saint Joseph. It is the seventh oldest Jesuit university in the United States and the sixth largest university in Philadelphia. The university has an additional campus in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
1851
175 years old
$484M
$484.2 million (2025)
7,159
5,044 undergrad · 2,115 grad
449
81%
125 acres
86
76 minors
Identity
How to Apply to Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia
Official admissions pageNovember 15 (Early Action)
Is Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia Worth It?
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia offers moderate value at $29,689/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $86,881, which is near the national average. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.4 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 79% graduation rate means roughly 21% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
How Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia compares to peer private nonprofit colleges of similar tier in PA
Ranked #3 of 23 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Regis University | 60 | $18,397 | $72,105 |
| #2 | University of Portland | 59 | $28,210 | $82,804 |
| #3 | Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia | 58 | $29,689 | $86,881 |
| #4 | Molloy University | 57 | $24,347 | $77,789 |
| #5 | Manhattan University | 51 | $27,256 | $86,316 |
| #6 | Marquette University | 51 | $31,487 | $78,257 |
Peer group: private nonprofit colleges within ±60% of Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 3 in PA.
Best Programs at Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia
The highest-earning program at Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia is Accounting and Related Services at $60,500/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Biology, General at $27,700/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Accounting and Related Services graduate from Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia earns $60,500, while a Biology, General graduate earns $27,700. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Accounting and Related Services graduates carry $23,250 in median debt vs. $27,000 for Biology, General.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $29,689/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting and Related Services | $60,500 | $60,500 | $23,250 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $57,900 | $57,900 | $23,017 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $57,100 | $57,100 | $22,345 |
| Insurance | $56,600 | $56,600 | $23,500 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $53,900 | $53,900 | $26,352 |
| Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations | $50,700 | $50,700 | $23,750 |
| International Business | $48,900 | $48,900 | $24,241 |
| Economics | $46,500 | $46,500 | $26,369 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $45,600 | $45,600 | $26,406 |
| Marketing | $45,200 | $45,200 | $20,503 |
| Criminology | $44,700 | $44,700 | $27,000 |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other | $44,700 | $44,700 | $23,125 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $39,100 | $39,100 | $25,250 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | $37,600 | $37,600 | $26,475 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $34,900 | $34,900 | $23,227 |
| Psychology, General | $34,400 | $34,400 | $27,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $33,000 | $33,000 | $23,250 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $30,700 | $30,700 | $27,000 |
| Political Science and Government | $28,100 | $28,100 | $26,000 |
| Biology, General | $27,700 | $27,700 | $27,000 |
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Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- private
- Location
- Philadelphia, PA
- Student Body
- 4,948 students
- Admission Rate
- 89%
- Graduation Rate
- 79%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $29,689
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $86,881
- Median Student Debt
- $25,500