Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia vs University of Pittsburgh-Bradford: 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 3.5 years at University of Pittsburgh-Bradford, on median earnings of $86,881 vs $66,125 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia | University of Pittsburgh-Bradford |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $29,689 | $15,350 |
| Total net cost | $118,756 | $61,400 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $86,881 | $66,125 |
| Median debt | $25,500 | $24,250 |
| Payback | 3.1 yrs | 3.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $651,664 | $293,900 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia or University of Pittsburgh-Bradford?
University of Pittsburgh-Bradford, at $15,350 a year after aid versus $29,689 — a gap of $14,339 a year, or $57,356 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 University of Pittsburgh-Bradford graduates earn more?
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia graduates report a median $86,881 ten years after entry, $20,756 more than the $66,125 at University of Pittsburgh-Bradford. 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 University of Pittsburgh-Bradford?
University of Pittsburgh-Bradford: its completers carry a median $24,250 in federal loans versus $25,500 at Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia, a difference of $1,250. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
79% of students finish at Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia, against 48% at University of Pittsburgh-Bradford. 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.