Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia vs Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster: which has better ROI?
Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster has the better ROI: it clears its 2-year net cost of $84,956 in 2.2 years versus 3.1 years at Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia, on median earnings of $86,881 vs $86,881 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia | Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $29,689 | $42,478 |
| Total net cost | $118,756 | $84,956 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $86,881 | $86,881 |
| Median debt | $25,500 | $25,500 |
| Payback | 3.1 yrs | 2.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $651,664 | $685,464 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia or Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster?
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia, at $29,689 a year after aid versus $42,478 — a gap of $12,789 a year, or $33,800 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 Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster graduates earn more?
Graduates of both report a median $86,881 ten years after entry, so earnings do not separate them either — the ROI difference comes entirely from what each degree costs. Figures are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, not programme-level pay.
Which leaves students with less debt, Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia or Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster?
Completers at both borrow a median $25,500, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
Which graduates more of its students?
79% of students finish at Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia, 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.