Saint Francis University
Loretto, Pennsylvania · Private Nonprofit · 76.8% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 70/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Saint Francis University in Loretto, Pennsylvania, scores 70 (Fair Value). The cost story is what drives the gap: $44,000 tuition sticker discounts down to a $23,526 net price (a 46% institutional discount). With $27,000 median federal debt and ten-year median earnings of $62,101, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.552 produces an 8.6-year payback period - genuinely competitive with strong publics. Completion rate of 74.4% is excellent for a small Catholic liberal arts school, and the repayment rate of 83.8% indicates graduates are reliably paying down principal. The school's professional-program heavy mix - PA studies, nursing, OT/PT - drives most of the earnings story. 1,557 students keeps the campus intimate. With just 17.7% Pell rate, the student body skews middle and upper-middle income, and the institutional financial aid is meaningful for everyone who enrolls. As of 2024-2025 Scorecard data, Saint Francis represents a defensible value for healthcare-focused students despite the headline sticker price.
Saint Francis University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $44,000/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $44,000/yr |
| Average net price | $23,526/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $94,104 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $62,101 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $48,900 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 8.6 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 74.4% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,557 |
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: $44,000/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $23,526/year, or roughly $94,104 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 $21,906/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $22,945/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $27,000, which works out to about $286 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($48,900) and comes to 0.55, 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 | $21,906 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $19,995 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $22,677 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $28,717 |
| $110,001+ | $22,945 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30K pay $21,906 net per year, and the $30K-$48K band actually pays slightly less at $19,995 - a mild inverted bracket reflecting how need-based aid stacks. Low-income students still face roughly $80K-$88K four-year out-of-pocket cost, which only works if the student lands in a high-earning allied-health major.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48K-$75K band pays $22,677 and the $75K-$110K band jumps sharply to $28,717. Middle-income families face $91K-$115K in four-year out-of-pocket cost. The math works for PA, PT, OT, and nursing graduates; it's tighter for business and behavioral-science majors where earnings hit closer to $45K-$60K.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110K pay $22,945 net per year - notably less than the $75K-$110K band's $28,717. This inversion likely reflects merit aid stacking at higher income levels where need-based aid disappears. High-income families face roughly $92K four-year cost, comparable to middle-income; for healthcare-bound students this works.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Saint Francis University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $72,821 | B |
| Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment | $115,813 | B+ |
| Registered Nursing | $81,510 | B |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $61,535 | C |
| Accounting | $70,937 | C |
| Biology | $25,411 | F |
| Marketing | $59,631 | - |
| Behavioral Sciences | $47,316 | F |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | $68,578 | - |
| Psychology | $66,010 | B |
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.
Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment
Allied Health is Saint Francis's flagship program: 42 graduates with $115,813 four-year earnings, $29,750 debt, and a 0.257 D/E ratio earning a B+ grade. This pipeline (likely PA studies and similar physician-extender paths) anchors the school's entire ROI case.
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
Rehab/Therapeutic Professions produces 48 graduates with $72,821 four-year earnings, $29,750 debt, and a 0.409 D/E ratio (B grade). Saint Francis's PT/OT programs feed Pennsylvania and Mid-Atlantic healthcare systems with reliable demand. Solid, regulated-license earnings make this another high-confidence path.
Registered Nursing
Nursing yields $72,930 first-year earnings on $30,579 debt for a 0.419 D/E ratio (B grade). 38 graduates per year feed Western Pennsylvania and broader Mid-Atlantic hospital systems. Like all nursing programs, the regulated license and supply-constrained labor market create predictable strong ROI.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Admin enrolls 27 graduates with $42,706 first-year earnings, $27,043 debt, and a 0.633 D/E ratio (C grade).
Biology
Biology produces 20 graduates with $25,411 first-year earnings, $27,000 debt, and a 1.063 D/E ratio (F grade). The pre-med problem in a small-private context: students earning $25K at year one need to be on a clear medical or PA-school track. Students who exit at the bachelor's face severe payment stress against this debt load.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 80.1% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 83.8% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 79.6% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 83.4% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Saint Francis 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 | 76.8% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 520-610 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 530-620 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 21-27 |
| Enrollment | 1,557 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 17.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,645 |
Saint Francis admits 76.8% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 520-610 math and 530-620 reading, and an ACT band of 21-27. Moderately selective: prepared B-average students will get in, and the school clearly screens for academic preparation strong enough to support the demanding allied-health programs. The 74.4% completion rate is consistent with this admit profile - students who matriculate are well-matched to the program rigor and finish at a high rate.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Saint Francis's ROI is 70.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Francis University (this school) | 70 | $23,526 | $62,101 |
| Mount St. Mary's University | 68 | $22,655 | $64,072 |
| Westmont College | 65 | $29,053 | $64,778 |
| John Brown University | 64 | $20,397 | $53,907 |
| Albright College | 56 | $20,024 | $58,700 |
| Bryn Athyn College of the New Church | 34 | $20,586 | $40,457 |
Who Thrives Here
Saint Francis fits middle-income Pennsylvanians targeting healthcare careers, particularly physician assistant, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and nursing. With 17.7% Pell rate and 1,557 students, the school is small, tight-knit, and majority middle-to-upper-middle income. Weak fit for students seeking strong CS, engineering, or research-track liberal arts - the program menu is professionally focused.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Saint Francis University is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $23,526 a year after aid ($94,104 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $62,101 a decade out, the cost takes about 8.6 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: its 74.4% graduation rate, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $27,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $48,900 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.55, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Saint Francis University: Common Questions
Is Saint Francis University worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Saint Francis University is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 70/100 on our ROI scale. At $23,526 a year after aid ($94,104 over four years) against $62,101 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 8.6 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Saint Francis 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 $23,526 a year, or roughly $94,104 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 Saint Francis University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $62,101 ten years after enrolling, roughly $20,301 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 Saint Francis 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 8.6 years for Saint Francis University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Saint Francis University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $27,000, against average earnings of $48,900 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.55. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Saint Francis University?
The six-year graduation rate is 74.4%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (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.