Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia — ROI, Cost & Payback
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia charges a net price of $29,689/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $118,756. Graduates earn a median $86,881 ten years after entry, $38,521/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 3.1 years — a 20-year net return of $651,664, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia's 3.1-year payback ranks #193 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 85% of them, and #6 of 169 in Pennsylvania.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $29,689/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $118,756 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $86,881 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $38,521/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $25,500 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 3.1 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $651,664 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia's own numbers. Net price $29,689 × 4 years = $118,756 total. Median earnings $86,881 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $38,521 a year of premium. $118,756 ÷ $38,521 = 3.1 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $651,664. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia students graduate with?
A median $25,500 in federal loans among completers, or 29% of the $86,881 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia students graduate?
79% finish their degree. Spread the $118,756 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $150,324 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia expensive compared with other Pennsylvania colleges?
Its $29,689 net price runs $7,948 above the $21,741 median across the 169 Pennsylvania colleges we profile, or $31,792 more across the full degree.