College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia

Philadelphia, PA 4,948 Undergrads 78.3% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$67,954
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$29,689
After Aid
Median Earnings
$84,010
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$29,689
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$84,010
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$86,881
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate78.3%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age21.1
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients19.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time97.4%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS86.1%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
88.8%
SAT Avg
1,258
SAT Reading
25th: 59061575th: 680
SAT Math
25th: 58060075th: 670
ACT Composite
25th: 282875th: 31

ROI Sensitivity Analysis
Assuming 4 Years to Graduation

This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.

Lifetime Value Added (NPV)

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$721k
+$254k
+$237k
Median Cost$30k/yr
+$614k
+$147k
+$130k
Full Cost$68k/yr
+$476k
+$9k
-$8k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
27
Median Cost$30k/yr
36
121%
Full Cost$68k/yr
Never
-3%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
  • Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
  • Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
  • NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.

Social Impact ROINew

Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.

Donor Return85%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew

Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.

Taxpayer Return-39%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator, or for more sophisticated analysis, the Guided ROI Interview, with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$87,103
Natl Median: $57,584
Lifetime Value Added
+$435k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$75,123
Natl Median: $38,675
Lifetime Value Added
+$318k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $35,447
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,283
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Associate's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$71,592
Natl Median: $65,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$196k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$88,101
Natl Median: $80,813
Lifetime Value Added
+$344k

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$24,560
Earnings (4yr)
$93,585
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$203k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$72,151
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
+$28k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$25,919
Earnings (4yr)
$82,769
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$120k
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$81,233
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$108k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$75,549
Natl Median: $50,523
Lifetime Value Added
+$65k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$59,929
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$110,178
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$329k
Criminology
BachCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$21,625
Earnings (4yr)
$55,924
Natl Median: $55,556
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$87,943
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$160k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,433
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,915
Earnings (4yr)
$52,137
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$78,554
Natl Median: $61,027
Lifetime Value Added
+$88k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,925
Earnings (4yr)
$96,993
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$229k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$85,690
Natl Median: $68,245
Lifetime Value Added
+$142k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$84,658
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
+$135k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,009
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$218k
Median Debt
$23,970
Earnings (4yr)
$83,692
Natl Median: $68,069
Lifetime Value Added
+$127k
Insurance
BachCIP: 5217
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$101,930
Natl Median: $88,472
Lifetime Value Added
+$266k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$81,519
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$111k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$52,111
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
-$129k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $57,149
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$29,449
Earnings (4yr)
$72,048
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
+$38k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,290
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$96,930
Natl Median: $86,176
Lifetime Value Added
+$228k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$26,000
Earnings (4yr)
$78,522
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$88k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,582
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$91,542
Natl Median: $68,883
Lifetime Value Added
+$173k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$122,633
Natl Median: $116,539
Lifetime Value Added
+$423k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$69,816
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$21k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$56,647
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$83k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$86,383
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$148k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,648
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$212k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$38,289
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$224k
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$64,827
Natl Median: $50,499
Lifetime Value Added
-$17k
Median Debt
$26,250
Earnings (4yr)
$80,764
Natl Median: $59,631
Lifetime Value Added
+$105k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$59,717
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,165
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,661
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$130,685
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
+$453k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,271
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$42,887
Earnings (4yr)
$141,003
Natl Median: $125,988
Lifetime Value Added
+$542k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,837
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,597
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Criminology
MastCIP: 4504
Median Debt
$34,166
Earnings (4yr)
$70,474
Natl Median: $67,647
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$38,359
Earnings (4yr)
$92,776
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
+$122k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$79,721
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $90,955
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$132,021
Natl Median: $110,694
Lifetime Value Added
+$464k
Gerontology
MastCIP: 3011
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,618
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$86,525
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$68k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $81,651
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities
MastCIP: 5132
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,487
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Homeland Security
MastCIP: 4303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,660
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$38,392
Earnings (5yr)
$85,484
Natl Median: $83,558
Lifetime Value Added
+$44k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $97,121
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$137,548
Natl Median: $106,092
Lifetime Value Added
+$512k
Median Debt
$34,166
Earnings (4yr)
$122,660
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
+$383k
Marketing
MastCIP: 5214
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$109,948
Natl Median: $79,106
Lifetime Value Added
+$273k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $92,305
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$138,696
Natl Median: $129,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$522k
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$88,006
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
+$81k
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,751
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$129,192
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
+$440k
Median Debt
$37,600
Earnings (4yr)
$66,379
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$109k
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$226,638
Natl Median: $120,246
Lifetime Value Added
+$1271k
Median Debt
$35,021
Earnings (4yr)
$61,035
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$158k
Median Debt
$23,008
Earnings (4yr)
$71,762
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k

Graduate Certificates

Criminology
Gr-CertCIP: 4504
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$73,972
Natl Median: $70,346
Lifetime Value Added
+$47k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $118,893
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $109,930
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,140
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,611
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $99,578
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
DocCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,386
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$104,715
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
+$23k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $108,943
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $136,696
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $93,640
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
DocCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $108,962
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$138,332
Natl Median: $138,348
Lifetime Value Added
+$270k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$81,327
Natl Median: $81,641
Lifetime Value Added
-$151k

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.

For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate decision moving forward. Note that the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.

Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.