Swarthmore College 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 2.9 years at Swarthmore College, on median earnings of $86,881 vs $80,257 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Swarthmore College | Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $23,149 | $42,478 |
| Total net cost | $92,596 | $84,956 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $80,257 | $86,881 |
| Median debt | $17,500 | $25,500 |
| Payback | 2.9 yrs | 2.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $545,344 | $685,464 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Swarthmore College or Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster?
Swarthmore College, at $23,149 a year after aid versus $42,478 — a gap of $19,329 a year, or $7,640 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Swarthmore College or Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster graduates earn more?
Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster graduates report a median $86,881 ten years after entry, $6,624 more than the $80,257 at Swarthmore College. 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, Swarthmore College or Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster?
Swarthmore College: its completers carry a median $17,500 in federal loans versus $25,500 at Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster, a difference of $8,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
92% of students finish at Swarthmore College, 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.