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.
Desales University's published cost of attendance is $62,745. Net price by income band shows how financial aid reshapes that headline figure: low-income families pay approximately $24,007, families in the lower-middle income range pay around $25,400, middle-income families pay about $26,096, families in the upper-middle income range pay approximately $29,982, and higher-income families pay around $34,878. Azimuth ranks Desales University #1267 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Desales University meets demonstrated financial need through a combination of need-based scholarships, grants, and federal aid programs. The institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and state aid programs, and work-study is available as part of aid packages for qualifying students. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA; some applicants may also be required to submit the CSS Profile depending on institutional policy. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,788, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $33,790; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at Desales University's median four-year earnings of $74,078, median federal debt of $25,788 projects to a monthly payment of about $291 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Desales University is a strong fit for students interested in Health fields who want a private university experience in PA. 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. They also 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. The university enrolls a meaningful share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 23.8% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 29.5% are first-generation — and delivers graduation outcomes that place Desales University in the 72.2 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 77.1% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors Health fields over others. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find strong outcomes relative to PA's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $33,196.
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.
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 |
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
35 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
110 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
63 graduates
Biology, General
40 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
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.
Desales University's published cost of attendance is $62,745. Net price by income band shows how financial aid reshapes that headline figure: low-income families pay approximately $24,007, families in the lower-middle income range pay around $25,400, middle-income families pay about $26,096, families in the upper-middle income range pay approximately $29,982, and higher-income families pay around $34,878.
Azimuth ranks Desales University #1267 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Desales University meets demonstrated financial need through a combination of need-based scholarships, grants, and federal aid programs. The institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and state aid programs, and work-study is available as part of aid packages for qualifying students.
Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA; some applicants may also be required to submit the CSS Profile depending on institutional policy. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,788, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $33,790; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at Desales University's median four-year earnings of $74,078, median federal debt of $25,788 projects to a monthly payment of about $291 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
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.
