Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Desales University #947 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $74,078, placing Desales University in the 74.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Desales University sits in the 71.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. ---
Azimuth ranks Desales University #947 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in Center Valley, Pennsylvania, Desales University enrolls roughly 2,128 undergraduates. Retention is 83.0% and the six-year graduation rate is 72.2%, reflecting solid conversion of enrollment into degree completion. Where Desales University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Desales University #252 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $74,078, and Desales University sits in the 71.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's strength in Health fields — which represent a substantial share of the degree portfolio — drives consistent early-career earnings that outpace what similar students achieve at comparable institutions. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Desales University sits in the 30.4 percentile for access and the 11.1 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. As a private doctoral/professional university, the institution's pricing reflects tuition levels typical of private higher education, though need-based aid reshapes net cost for families that qualify. The composite reflects a focused institutional mission: strong career outcomes for students who enroll, anchored in health professions and related fields where employer demand and graduate earnings remain robust.
Published cost of attendance is $62,745. After need-based aid, low-income families pay approximately $24,007, middle-income families pay around $26,096, higher-income families pay approximately $34,878. Azimuth ranks Desales University #1267 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, in the 11.1 percentile. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,788; families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $33,790. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $74,078, median federal debt projects to a monthly payment of about $291 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios, use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Desales University is a fit for students who want a private nonprofit four-year option in PA and are weighing outcomes against cost. Azimuth ranks Desales University #945 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $74,078, placing Desales University in the 74.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $3,275 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 71.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Published cost of attendance is $62,745. After need-based aid, low-income families pay approximately $24,007, middle-income families pay around $26,096, higher-income families pay approximately $34,878. Students should weigh those current cost and earnings figures against the school's program mix before treating the fit as primarily an earnings, affordability, or access story.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Desales University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
35 graduates
Adult Health Nurse/Nursing
110 graduates
Business Administration and Management, General
63 graduates
Biology, General
40 graduates
Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping
35 graduates
Desales University's program mix is anchored in health sciences and professional fields, reflecting the institution's mission-driven focus on healthcare and human services. Nursing is the largest program with 110 graduates, followed by Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Biology, General, and Digital Marketing.
Across 23 total programs, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, with particular strength concentrated in health-related and business-adjacent fields. The earnings pattern reflects the institution's health-sciences signature.
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other leads with median earnings of $124,965 four years after enrollment across 35 graduates, followed by Nursing at $91,887 with 110 graduates and Business Administration at $79,595. Biology, General and Accounting round out the highest-earning programs, with graduates earning $76,125 and $74,169 respectively.
These programs represent a mix of direct-to-workforce and graduate-school-dependent pathways, with nursing and allied health fields offering immediate labor-market entry while others like Criminal Justice often lead to advanced professional credentials. The concentration in Health reflects Desales University's positioning as a health-professions-focused private institution in the mid-Atlantic region.
Graduates entering nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and related clinical fields benefit from strong regional employer demand and stable career pathways. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these health-sciences programs align with national labor-market trends and workforce needs in the healthcare sector.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Published cost of attendance is $62,745. After need-based aid, low-income families pay approximately $24,007, middle-income families pay around $26,096, higher-income families pay approximately $34,878.
Azimuth ranks Desales University #1267 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, in the 11.1 percentile. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,788; families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $33,790.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $74,078, median federal debt projects to a monthly payment of about $291 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios, use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Graduates of DeSales University earn median 4-year earnings of $74,078, placing Desales University in the 74.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $3,275 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Desales University in the 71.2 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Desales University #252 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Desales University's concentration in health-related fields.
Nursing is the largest program with 110 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $91,887, performing at 1.0x the national benchmark for the field. The Business Administration program graduates 63 students earning $79,595, while Criminal Justice with 41 graduates earns $64,020.
Biology, General and Digital Marketing round out the top five, with 40 and 38 graduates respectively earning $76,125 and $72,203. The dominance of Health programs — which account for a substantial share of degrees — aligns with stable, in-demand career pathways that support consistent post-graduation earnings and long-term financial security.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lipscomb University Similar quality tier (#25952 ranked) | TN | 68% | $55,541 | #25952 | Compare |
Universidad Adventista De Las Antillas Similar quality tier (#25951 ranked) | PR | 100% | $28,465 | #25951 | Compare |
Champlain College Similar quality tier in Northeast (#25950 ranked) | VT | 83% | $58,386 | #25950 | Compare |
Rockford University Similar quality tier (#25949 ranked) | IL | 93% | $54,794 | #25949 | Compare |
Campbell University Similar quality tier (#25943 ranked) | NC | 87% | $54,886 | #25943 | Compare |
