Villanova University vs Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia: 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 3.4 years at Villanova University, on median earnings of $86,881 vs $100,423 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Villanova University | Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $43,756 | $29,689 |
| Total net cost | $175,024 | $118,756 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $100,423 | $86,881 |
| Median debt | $25,874 | $25,500 |
| Payback | 3.4 yrs | 3.1 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $866,236 | $651,664 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Villanova University or Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia?
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia, at $29,689 a year after aid versus $43,756 — a gap of $14,067 a year, or $56,268 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Villanova University or Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia graduates earn more?
Villanova University graduates report a median $100,423 ten years after entry, $13,542 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, Villanova University or Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia?
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia: its completers carry a median $25,500 in federal loans versus $25,874 at Villanova University, a difference of $374. 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 Villanova University, 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.