La Roche University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · Private Nonprofit · 75.8% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 45/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
La Roche University scores 45 (Below Average Value) - a Pittsburgh-area private nonprofit where high debt loads and modest earnings combine to produce a 12.9-year payback period. Average 6-year earnings of $35,900 against a net price of $20,794 per year and median debt of $25,000 (debt-to-earnings 0.696) describe a financial profile where the return on investment is slow and the debt is real. Completion at 57.2% means over 40% of students don't finish. Registered Nursing (11 graduates, $92,902 year-four, B+ grade) is the clear standout. Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment posts $62,596 year-one (no year-four data). Accounting earns a C grade. Psychology (D grade), Criminal Justice (D grade), Health Professions (D grade), and Chemistry (D grade) round out a program roster where most outcomes are weak relative to tuition. La Roche serves a specific niche as a small Catholic liberal arts school in North Hills Pittsburgh, but the financial data suggests students should weigh whether that niche justifies the price and debt commitment.
La Roche University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $34,052/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $34,052/yr |
| Average net price | $20,794/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $83,176 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $52,341 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $35,900 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $265 |
| Estimated payback period | 12.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 57.2% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 751 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $34,052/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $20,794/year, or roughly $83,176 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $16,152/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $27,145/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $25,000, which works out to about $265 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($35,900) and comes to 0.70, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $16,152 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $15,200 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $17,960 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $25,120 |
| $110,001+ | $27,145 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 bracket pays $16,152 per year at La Roche - meaningful for a private school but still significant against $35,900 average earnings. Against a 12.9-year payback, even low-income students face a long recovery. The 10.1% Pell rate suggests La Roche does not primarily serve this population.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $17,960, rising to $25,120 for the 75001-110000 tier. The jump from $18k to $25k is steep and may catch families by surprise during the aid packaging process. At $25,120 annually and $35,900 average earnings, the middle-income case is financially strained for most programs except nursing.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $27,145 per year - roughly $108,580 over four years. The nursing program's B+ grade is the one case where full-pay investment yields a defensible return.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at La Roche University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment | $62,596 | - |
| Psychology | $44,709 | D |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $68,717 | - |
| Teacher Education | $45,954 | C |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $46,184 | D |
| Health Professions, Residency Programs | $51,817 | D |
| Registered Nursing | $92,902 | B+ |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $53,064 | C |
| Marketing | $51,540 | C |
| Computer Science | $68,248 | - |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Nursing (11 graduates, very small sample) is La Roche's best program: $92,902 at year four (year-one not reported), debt-to-earnings 0.335 (B+ grade) on median debt of $31,135. The four-year figure is strong for Pittsburgh nursing wages, reflecting RN career advancement in the city's major hospital systems. The small cohort limits statistical confidence and the high debt ($31,135) reflects the private school premium over public nursing programs. Still, the B+ grade represents the clearest value proposition at this institution.
Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment
Allied Health Diagnostic (18 graduates) posts $62,596 year-one (no four-year data reported). The absence of four-year earnings data limits ROI grading, but year-one figures are competitive with the local market.
Accounting
Accounting (4 graduates, extremely small sample) earns a C grade: $40,085 year-one, $59,181 year-four, debt-to-earnings 0.624 on median debt of $25,000. Year-one earnings are modest for accounting, likely reflecting regional accounting firm and corporate controller placements in the Pittsburgh market. The very small cohort makes statistical interpretation unreliable.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice (12 graduates) earns a D grade: $35,388 year-one, $46,184 year-four, debt-to-earnings 0.735 on median debt of $26,000.
Psychology
Psychology (17 graduates) earns a D grade: $31,192 year-one, $44,709 year-four, debt-to-earnings 0.866 on median debt of $27,000. Near-term earnings of $31k at a private school cost structure with $27k in debt represents a poor financial outcome. Psychology graduates at La Roche likely enter human services, counseling, or administrative roles that do not reward the private school premium in the near term.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 74.1% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 77.5% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 71.6% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 75.3% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How La Roche University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 75.8% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 460-600 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 480-600 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 15-22 |
| Enrollment | 751 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 10.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,208 |
La Roche admits 75.8% of applicants with an ACT range of 15-22 at the 25th/75th percentile - a wide range reflecting broad access. Admission is not the decision point. The relevant question is whether the specific program a student wants produces outcomes that justify a net price of $20,794 per year at a 57.2% completion rate institution.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
La Roche pairs a very small enrollment with a 12.9-year payback period.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Roche University (this school) | 45 | $20,794 | $52,341 |
| Albright College | 56 | $20,024 | $58,700 |
| Briar Cliff University | 46 | $23,907 | $54,475 |
| Dakota Wesleyan University | 45 | $19,735 | $53,728 |
| Spring Hill College | 41 | $20,449 | $51,500 |
| Bryn Athyn College of the New Church | 34 | $20,586 | $40,457 |
Who Thrives Here
La Roche admits 75.8% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 460-600 Math and 480-600 Reading, ACT 15-22. Enrollment is just 751 - very small. At this enrollment size, program variety is limited and the nursing program's small cohort size limits capacity. Students who know they want nursing or allied health may find value here.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for La Roche University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $20,794 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $52,341 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 12.9 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70 (median across the schools we score: 0.61).
Median debt of $25,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $35,900 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
La Roche University: Common Questions
Is La Roche University worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. La Roche University scores 45/100 on our ROI scale. At $20,794 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $52,341 ten years after entry, so it takes about 12.9 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does La Roche University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $20,794 a year, or roughly $83,176 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do La Roche University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $52,341 ten years after enrolling, roughly $10,541 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off La Roche University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 12.9 years for La Roche University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do La Roche University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,000, against average earnings of $35,900 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at La Roche University?
The six-year graduation rate is 57.2%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.