Head-to-head comparison
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia vs Lafayette College: which has better ROI?
Option A Philadelphia, PA
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia
- Net price / year
- $29,689
- Earnings, 10 years
- $86,881
- Payback
- 3.1 yrs
Option B Easton, PA
Lafayette College
- Net price / year
- $34,433
- Earnings, 10 years
- $91,410
- Payback
- 3.2 yrs
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $118,756 in 3.1 years versus 3.2 years at Lafayette College, on median earnings of $86,881 vs $91,410 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia | Lafayette College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $29,689 | $34,433 |
| Total net cost | $118,756 | $137,732 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $86,881 | $91,410 |
| Median debt | $25,500 | $16,000 |
| Payback | 3.1 yrs | 3.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $651,664 | $723,268 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia or Lafayette College?
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia, at $29,689 a year after aid versus $34,433 — a gap of $4,744 a year, or $18,976 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 Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia or Lafayette College graduates earn more?
Lafayette College graduates report a median $91,410 ten years after entry, $4,529 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia or Lafayette College?
Lafayette College: its completers carry a median $16,000 in federal loans versus $25,500 at Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia, a difference of $9,500. 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 Lafayette College, 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.