Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia #685 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $4,509 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia in the 74.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia #130 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia's composite ranking reflects a balance of strong return on investment and earnings beyond expectations. Graduates earn about $4,509 more than similar students at comparable institutions, a pattern that anchors the institution's overall value proposition.
Azimuth ranks Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia #685 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private master's university in Philadelphia, PA, Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia enrolls roughly 4,948 undergraduates. Retention stands at 88.7% and the six-year graduation rate is 78.8%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a residential Catholic institution. Where Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia #130 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $84,010. They earn about $4,509 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia in the 74.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's business-focused program portfolio — with Business as the dominant concentration — aligns well with regional employer demand in Philadelphia's financial services, healthcare, and professional services sectors. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia enrolls 19.8% Pell-eligible students and 17.5% first-generation undergraduates, placing it in the 24.7 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution sits in the 12.4 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting a higher sticker price typical of private master's universities, though need-based aid reshapes net cost for families that qualify. Mobility outcomes — how well low-income and first-generation graduates fare in the labor market — sit in the 43.4 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Saint Joseph's University's published cost of attendance is $67,954. Net price by income band reflects the institution's need-based aid structure: low-income families pay approximately $22,570, middle-income families pay around $24,297, and higher-income families pay approximately $33,222. Azimuth ranks Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia #1248 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. Saint Joseph's participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and the university works to close the gap between published cost and what families actually pay through a combination of grants and scholarships. The affordability rank reflects both the headline sticker price and the net price outcomes families experience across income levels — a useful benchmark for comparing how far aid stretches at this institution relative to peer private universities. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $42,436; 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 the institution's median four-year earnings of $84,010, median federal debt of $25,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $288 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia is a strong fit for students interested in business and related fields who want a private university experience in PA. The university's program mix leans heavily toward Business, which represents 45% of graduates. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $84,010, placing Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia in the 87.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn about $4,509 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 74.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university enrolls a meaningful share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 19.8% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 17.5% are first-generation. The published net price for higher-income families is $33,222, with median federal debt at graduation of $25,500. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 88.8% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors business-oriented fields over STEM or humanities. Students whose interests align with these areas will find strong career-aligned outcomes.
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 Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration
92 graduates
Computer Science
16 graduates
Insurance
58 graduates
Finance and Financial Management Services
128 graduates
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
129 graduates
Saint Joseph's University's program mix is anchored in business, professional services, and applied fields — a portfolio shaped by the institution's Jesuit mission and Philadelphia's professional-services economy. Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations is the largest program with 144 graduates, followed by Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other, Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Finance, and Digital Marketing.
Across 0 ranked programs, several deliver strong four-year earnings outcomes aligned with regional employer demand. The earnings pattern reflects strength in applied business and professional fields.
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration, Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration, and Administration leads with median earnings of $122,633 four years after enrollment, followed by Finance at $96,993, Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods at $96,930, Accounting at $93,585, and Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other at $85,690. These programs cluster in business administration, finance, accounting, and related professional disciplines where graduates enter stable, well-compensated career pathways in the Philadelphia region and beyond.
Business represents the institutional core, with 45% of graduates concentrated in this family alongside meaningful enrollment in Social Sciences and Education. This concentration in applied professional fields aligns with the [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/), where business and finance fields continue to show stable employer demand and wage growth.
As a mid-sized private university in a major metropolitan area, Saint Joseph's leverages Philadelphia's dense professional-services network and employer recruitment patterns to support direct-to-workforce pathways for graduates across its dominant program families.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Elmhurst University Similar quality tier (#15828 ranked) | IL | 74% | $61,462 | #15828 | Compare |
Yeshiva University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#15827 ranked) | NY | 56% | $71,353 | #15827 | Compare |
Depauw University Similar quality tier (#15819 ranked) | IN | 57% | $70,527 | #15819 | Compare |
The College Of Saint Scholastica Similar quality tier (#15817 ranked) | MN | 93% | $65,934 | #15817 | Compare |
Abilene Christian University Similar quality tier (#15848 ranked) | TX | 100% | $55,736 | #15848 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Saint Joseph's University's published cost of attendance is $67,954. Net price by income band reflects the institution's need-based aid structure: low-income families pay approximately $22,570, middle-income families pay around $24,297, and higher-income families pay approximately $33,222.
Azimuth ranks Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia #1248 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.
Saint Joseph's participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and the university works to close the gap between published cost and what families actually pay through a combination of grants and scholarships.
The affordability rank reflects both the headline sticker price and the net price outcomes families experience across income levels — a useful benchmark for comparing how far aid stretches at this institution relative to peer private universities. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $42,436; 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 the institution's median four-year earnings of $84,010, median federal debt of $25,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $288 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 Saint Joseph's University earn median 4-year earnings of $84,010, placing Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia in the 87.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $4,509 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia in the 74.5 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia #130 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia's concentration in business and professional fields.
Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations is the largest program with 144 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $80,764, performing at 1.4x the national CIP-4 benchmark for the field. The Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other program graduates 129 students with median 4-year earnings of $85,690, also outperforming its benchmark at 1.3x.
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods and Finance round out the top programs, with 129 and 128 graduates respectively earning $96,930 and $96,993. This program lineup — anchored by Business at 45% of degrees — positions Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia to deliver consistent earnings outcomes across its core academic portfolio.
