Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster
Lancaster, PA 17601
About Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster
Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster is a private two-year college in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, enrolling about 1,280 students. The college offers associate degrees, career certificates, and transfer pathways to four-year universities. Typical net price after grant aid is about $42,478 for students who receive it, compared with published tuition near $32,933. Student demographics in federal data include White (60.8%) and Hispanic or Latino (17.9%) among the largest enrollment groups.
Key findings
- Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster charges 12% above the national private non-profit median tuition ($32,933).
- Versus the Pennsylvania median, sticker tuition is 69% above.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 68.75%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $86,881.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 411% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster | $32,933 | $42,478 | 1 |
| Private Non-profit (national median) | $29,325 | — | 1,444 |
| Pennsylvania (state median) | $19,450 | $17,754 | 181 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster really?
Key findings
- Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster charges 12% above the national private non-profit median tuition ($32,933).
- Versus the Pennsylvania median, sticker tuition is 69% above.
Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $32,933
Finding Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster charges 12% above the national private non-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $32,933. That is 12% above the national private non-profit median ($29,325). Versus the Pennsylvania median ($19,450), sticker tuition is 69% above. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 2.8×.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to private non-profit and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster is $42,478.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $42,478 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $24,724 above the Pennsylvania median net price.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway At Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$32,933
Avg. net price
$42,478
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $37,532 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $38,376 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $41,420 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $44,745 |
| $110,001+ | $47,879 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $131,732. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster is known for
Top program completions
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse374
- Health Services Administration28
- Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiographer24
- 05.109121
- Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic)15
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Selective — about half of applicants (or fewer) are admitted.
- Yield: 47% of admitted students enrolled.
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster.
Campus
Location
Lancaster, PA
City / state
- ZIP
- 17601
Control
Institution type
Private Non-profit
Control
- Region
- Mid East
- Carnegie
- Special Focus Four-Year: Business and Management
Size
Enrollment
1,280
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 1,544
- Graduate
- 91
- Full-time share
- 37%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$25,500
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 54.98%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $21,502 | $21,502 | $24,984 |
| 2014 | $23,045 | $23,045 | $25,014 |
| 2015 | $24,453 | $24,453 | $28,968 |
| 2016 | $25,510 | $25,510 | $32,954 |
| 2017 | $27,568 | $27,568 | $36,054 |
| 2018 | $28,412 | $28,412 | $33,316 |
| 2019 | $29,320 | $29,320 | $33,512 |
| 2020 | $29,922 | $29,922 | $33,148 |
| 2021 | $29,922 | $29,922 | $36,658 |
| 2022 | $30,821 | $30,821 | $34,944 |
| 2023 | $31,866 | $31,866 | $37,208 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution is selective, accepting about half of all applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster reported total enrollment of about 1,280 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 13% male and 87% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (60.8%), Hispanic or Latino (17.9%), and Black or African American (12.0%). About 54.98% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 17.5% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
37.3% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster in 2024 is 1,280 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 1,544 students. Graduate enrollment is about 91 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
81.2%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
38.46% 100% Completion Time
68.75% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 38.46% of students graduating from Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 9% male / 91% female
- Health Services Administration: 21% male / 79% female
- Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiographer: 21% male / 79% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster graduates earn a median of $86,881 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $86,881. Median federal loan debt: $25,500. Average net price used in cost models: $42,478.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster graduates report median earnings of $86,881 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (19 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$11.9M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Pennsylvania median 0.25× the median ($47.9M)
- Mid East median 0.28× the median ($42.6M)
- U.S. median 0.45× the median ($26.4M)
- Pennsylvania median 0.37× the median ($24,897)
- Mid East median 0.56× the median ($16,427)
- U.S. median 0.76× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 72.8%
- Pennsylvania median 9.7 pp above median (63.1%)
- Mid East median 15.9 pp above median (56.9%)
- U.S. median 14.9 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $8,255
- Pennsylvania median near the median ($8,003)
- Mid East median near the median ($8,119)
- U.S. median 1.1× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $8,676
- Pennsylvania median near the median ($8,615)
- Mid East median 0.95× the median ($9,164)
- U.S. median 1.2× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster at a glance
Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster
Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster is a private non-profit institution in Lancaster, PA, classified as Special Focus Four-Year: Business and Management.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Registered Nursing/Registered NurseHealth Services AdministrationRadiologic Technology/Science - Radiographer
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian60.8%Hispanic or Latino17.9%Black or African American12.0%
- Opportunity College (2025)
- Higher access & higher earnings · Browse OCU directory
Schools near Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster
Other campuses in Lancaster, PA when available, plus nearby institutions in Pennsylvania.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade B) within Pennsylvania, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster located?
Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster is located in Lancaster, PA.
What is Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster is 41.2% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 451 applicants and 199 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster's tuition?
Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $32,933 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $42,478 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster cost?
Reported tuition is $32,933 and average net price is $42,478 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $16,240 annually.
What explains Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($42,478), completion (68.8% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($86,881). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster?
Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster reports undergraduate enrollment of about 1,544 students, White (60.8%), Hispanic or Latino (17.9%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster?
About 17.5% of students at Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster earn?
Median earnings are $66,438 six years after entry and $86,881 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster?
The 150%-time completion rate is 68.8% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $25,500.
Is Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster public or private?
Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster is a private nonprofit institution located in Lancaster, PA.
Is Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster an HBCU?
No. Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.