Head-to-head comparison
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia vs Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster: 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 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 3.1 years at Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia, on median earnings of $86,881 vs $86,881 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia | Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $29,689 | $42,478 |
| Total net cost | $118,756 | $84,956 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $86,881 | $86,881 |
| Median debt | $25,500 | $25,500 |
| Payback | 3.1 yrs | 2.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $651,664 | $685,464 |
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 Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster?
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia, at $29,689 a year after aid versus $42,478 — a gap of $12,789 a year, or $33,800 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 Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster graduates earn more?
Graduates of both report a median $86,881 ten years after entry, so earnings do not separate them either — the ROI difference comes entirely from what each degree costs. Figures are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, not programme-level pay.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia or Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster?
Completers at both borrow a median $25,500, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
79% of students finish at Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia, 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.