Carnegie Mellon University vs Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster: which has better ROI?
Carnegie Mellon University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $127,776 in 1.9 years versus 2.2 years at Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster, on median earnings of $114,862 vs $86,881 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Carnegie Mellon University | Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $31,944 | $42,478 |
| Total net cost | $127,776 | $84,956 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $114,862 | $86,881 |
| Median debt | $21,750 | $25,500 |
| Payback | 1.9 yrs | 2.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $1,202,264 | $685,464 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Carnegie Mellon University or Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster?
Carnegie Mellon University, at $31,944 a year after aid versus $42,478 — a gap of $10,534 a year, or $42,820 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Carnegie Mellon University or Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster graduates earn more?
Carnegie Mellon University graduates report a median $114,862 ten years after entry, $27,981 more than the $86,881 at Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Carnegie Mellon University or Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster?
Carnegie Mellon University: its completers carry a median $21,750 in federal loans versus $25,500 at Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster, a difference of $3,750. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
94% of students finish at Carnegie Mellon University, against 69% at Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.