Head-to-head comparison
Lehigh University vs Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster: which has better ROI?
Option A Bethlehem, PA
Lehigh University
- Net price / year
- $36,931
- Earnings, 10 years
- $105,584
- Payback
- 2.6 yrs
Option B Lancaster, PA
Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster
- Net price / year
- $42,478
- Earnings, 10 years
- $86,881
- Payback
- 2.2 yrs
Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster has the better ROI: it clears its 2-year net cost of $84,956 in 2.2 years versus 2.6 years at Lehigh University, on median earnings of $86,881 vs $105,584 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lehigh University | Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $36,931 | $42,478 |
| Total net cost | $147,724 | $84,956 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $105,584 | $86,881 |
| Median debt | $21,960 | $25,500 |
| Payback | 2.6 yrs | 2.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $996,756 | $685,464 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Lehigh University or Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster?
Lehigh University, at $36,931 a year after aid versus $42,478 — a gap of $5,547 a year, or $62,768 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Lehigh University or Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster graduates earn more?
Lehigh University graduates report a median $105,584 ten years after entry, $18,703 more than the $86,881 at Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster. 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Lehigh University or Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster?
Lehigh University: its completers carry a median $21,960 in federal loans versus $25,500 at Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster, a difference of $3,540. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
88% of students finish at Lehigh University, 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.