University of Saint Joseph
West Hartford, Connecticut · Private Nonprofit · 78.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 52/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of Saint Joseph scores 52 (Below Average Value), driven by a 10.1-year payback period, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.626, and a repayment rate of 68.8%. Net price of $27,989 against average 6-year earnings of $43,100 is an uncomfortable ratio for a small (838 students) Catholic women's college in West Hartford, Connecticut. The 63.8% completion rate is adequate. USJ recently transitioned to coeducation (formerly a women's college), which may affect demographics and enrollment trajectory in coming years. The school's program mix is dominated by nursing and health-adjacent fields, which drive better outcomes than the overall campus average suggests.
University of Saint Joseph
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $47,278/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $47,278/yr |
| Average net price | $27,989/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $111,956 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $59,908 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $43,100 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 10.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 63.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 838 |
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: $47,278/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $27,989/year, or roughly $111,956 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 $24,563/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $31,958/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 ($43,100) and comes to 0.63, 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 | $24,563 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $23,940 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $24,054 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $27,701 |
| $110,001+ | $31,958 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The lowest income bracket (0-$30,000) pays $24,563 per year at USJ - a high net cost for Pell-eligible families. At this price, low-income students face a 10.1-year payback at median earnings. Nursing graduates earn the most of the programs shown.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families in the $48,001-75,000 range pay $24,054 per year - slightly lower than the lowest bracket, an unusual pattern. The $75,001-110,000 bracket pays $27,701. Net prices are compressed across brackets, with limited differentiation by income.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $31,958 per year. At 10.1 years payback, the full-pay case depends on program selection. Nursing graduates at full pay can build a reasonable financial case; other programs cannot. The school's small size and Catholic mission are the primary non-financial differentiators.
Earnings by Major
Top 5 most popular majors at University of Saint Joseph with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $90,587 | B |
| Psychology | $49,532 | C+ |
| Social Work | $59,465 | C+ |
| Biology | $49,383 | C+ |
| Public Health | $52,827 | C+ |
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
Registered Nursing is USJ's highest-earning program and its core financial strength: 81 graduates, $86,555 year-one, $90,587 at year four. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.358 (ROI grade B) reflects median debt of $30,990 against strong year-one earnings. Hartford area nursing wages are competitive; the Connecticut healthcare market absorbs USJ nursing graduates into hospital systems including Hartford HealthCare. Year-four earnings are relatively flat ($86k to $90k), consistent with hospital staff nursing scales.
Social Work
Social Work graduates 18 students with $59,465 four-year earnings. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.454 (ROI grade C+) reflects median debt of $27,000 against social work earnings, and is workable only because the four-year figure is notably high. Year-one data is unavailable, limiting early-career assessment. At USJ's net price, social work is a marginal financial choice.
Psychology
Psychology graduates 23 students with $49,532 four-year earnings. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.545 (ROI grade C+) reflects median debt of $27,000 against year-four earnings in the high-$40s. Year-one data is unavailable. The four-year earnings of $49k suggest some graduate school placement and applied roles in Connecticut's human services sector. At $27,989 annual net price, psychology is a financially marginal choice.
Biology
Biology graduates 14 students with $49,383 four-year earnings. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.547 (ROI grade C+) reflects median debt of $27,000. Year-one data is unavailable. The four-year figure likely reflects pre-professional students (pre-med, pre-PA) who enter healthcare-adjacent roles before completing advanced training. At this small volume, program-level conclusions are limited.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 67.1% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 68.8% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 69.5% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 73.2% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Saint Joseph’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 | 78.6% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 410-560 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 440-610 |
| Enrollment | 838 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 32.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,639 |
At 78.6% acceptance with SAT Math 410-560, USJ is accessible to most applicants. The test score ranges reflect a broad academic preparation spectrum, consistent with its small-college open-access positioning in the Connecticut market. The school admits nearly four-fifths of applicants.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
At ROI 52, USJ scores below the Fair Value threshold.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Saint Joseph (this school) | 52 | $27,989 | $59,908 |
| Bryan College-Dayton | 54 | $20,614 | $54,434 |
| Whittier College | 52 | $25,757 | $59,492 |
| Heritage University | 51 | $14,598 | $49,416 |
| Albertus Magnus College | 39 | $34,028 | $60,144 |
| University of Bridgeport | 27 | $27,807 | $50,323 |
Who Thrives Here
USJ admits 78.6% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 410-560 Math and 440-610 Reading - accessible to most applicants with standard high school preparation. With 32.7% Pell recipients, the school serves a mixed socioeconomic population. USJ fits students who want a small, faith-based, health-professions-oriented education in the Hartford metro. Nursing students have the most defensible financial case.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for University of Saint Joseph is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $27,989 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $59,908 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 10.1 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: a three-year loan repayment rate of 68.8% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $27,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $43,100 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63, 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.
University of Saint Joseph: Common Questions
Is University of Saint Joseph worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. University of Saint Joseph scores 52/100 on our ROI scale. At $27,989 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $59,908 ten years after entry, so it takes about 10.1 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does University of Saint Joseph 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 $27,989 a year, or roughly $111,956 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 University of Saint Joseph graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $59,908 ten years after enrolling, roughly $18,108 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 University of Saint Joseph?
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 10.1 years for University of Saint Joseph. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of Saint Joseph graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $27,000, against average earnings of $43,100 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63. 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 University of Saint Joseph?
The six-year graduation rate is 63.8%. 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.