Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. It enrolls 1,280 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
63/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes54
Value22
Affordability46
Selectivity88
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 41.2%, Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster is a selective institution.
Acceptance Rate
41.2%
Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
34.1 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $42,478 per year. That's above the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$42,478
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
55%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
53%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$32,933
Room & Board (off-campus)
$16,240
Books & Supplies
$1,160
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$1,450
Total Cost of Attendance
$47,879
Application fee: $35 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$37,532
$30,001 – $48,000
$38,376
$48,001 – $75,000
$41,420
$75,001 – $110,000
$44,745
Over $110,000
$47,879
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,50010%percentile
$9,73725%percentile
$25,500Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$28,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $24,250
↓ $1,250
No Pell $20,000
↓ $5,500
Dependent students $21,463
↓ $4,037
Independent students $21,992
↓ $3,508
Female students $21,500
↓ $4,000
Male students $21,000
↓ $4,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,750, less than completers ($25,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
73% of full-time students who enrolled at Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster graduate within six years, and 72% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
73%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
72%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster earn a median of $86,881 ten years after first enrolling. That's well above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$86,881
Earning > $25K
92%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$59,900
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$71,900
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$49,500
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$64,400
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$69,500
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $12,000, about 17% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
8.8 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 93% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster is home to 1,280 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 63% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
1,280
Part-Time
63%
First-Generation
18%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 60.8%778
Hispanic 17.9%229
Black 12.0%154
Asian 5.2%66
Other 3.2%41
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Rural: FringeLancaster, Pennsylvania
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
57%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
Designation
Branch campus
What You Can Study
Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster offers
a varied set of programs:
13 distinct programs across
2 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster is 13:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
13:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$3.5M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$70,115
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
74 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
3
4%
$81,679
Associate Professors
8
11%
$80,675
Assistant Professors
12
16%
$62,656
Instructors
45
61%
$70,818
Lecturers
6
8%
$59,897
Pros & Cons of Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
Narrow program catalog compared to mid-sized peers
Best for:
Based on the data, Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster is a fit for
working adults or students needing part-time study options; students prioritizing post-graduation earnings; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster.
Is Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster hard to get into?
Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster is selective but not extremely competitive. Its acceptance rate is 41.2%. Strong academic credentials and a thoughtful application materially improve your odds.
What is the acceptance rate at Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster?
Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster has an acceptance rate of 41.2%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster cost?
The average net price after aid at Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster is $42,478 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $86,881 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $42,478 per year. That's roughly 2.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster known for?
Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster is best known for its programs in Nursing, Nursing, Allied Health Diagnostic. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster are $86,881, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster accredited?
Yes. Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster?
Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster enrolls 1,280 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster?
Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster graduates 73% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster a public or private college?
Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster located?
Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster is located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
What programs does Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster offer?
Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster offers 13 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Nursing, Allied Health Diagnostic.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster is 13:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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