Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia vs Lafayette College: which has better ROI?
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $118,756 in 3.1 years versus 3.2 years at Lafayette College, on median earnings of $86,881 vs $91,410 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia | Lafayette College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $29,689 | $34,433 |
| Total net cost | $118,756 | $137,732 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $86,881 | $91,410 |
| Median debt | $25,500 | $16,000 |
| Payback | 3.1 yrs | 3.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $651,664 | $723,268 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia or Lafayette College?
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia, at $29,689 a year after aid versus $34,433 — a gap of $4,744 a year, or $18,976 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia or Lafayette College graduates earn more?
Lafayette College graduates report a median $91,410 ten years after entry, $4,529 more than the $86,881 at Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia. 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, Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia or Lafayette College?
Lafayette College: its completers carry a median $16,000 in federal loans versus $25,500 at Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia, a difference of $9,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
88% of students finish at Lafayette College, against 79% at Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia. 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.