Lancaster, PAprivate nonprofitsju.edu
Admit rate has ranged 44%–78% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Saint Joseph's University - Lancaster blends Jesuit tradition with career-focused health sciences in a tight-knit Pennsylvania setting. With an 81% acceptance rate and strong nursing programs, it attracts students seeking small classes and clinical training—though its $42K average cost demands serious financial planning. Graduates report solid mid-career salaries, especially in healthcare fields.
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
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Outcomes & value
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Campus & location
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Saint Joseph's Lancaster campus maintains an accessible admissions profile, with an 81% first-year Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. ([6]). The middle 50% of admitted students boast weighted GPAs between 3.39–4.11 and SAT scores of 1190–1350 ([8]). While Test-optionalA policy where you choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores. If you don't, the rest of your application carries more weight., 86% of enrollees completed advanced coursework in high school ([8]).
The Lancaster campus specializes in healthcare education, with nursing, radiologic technology, and sonography as top majors ([15]). Programs blend Jesuit liberal arts with accelerated clinical training ([16]).
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
With 1,548 students ([24]), the Lancaster campus fosters a supportive atmosphere. The historic downtown location provides access to arts and clinical rotations ([22], [23]).
Healthcare graduates see strong returns:
Tuition sits at $42,478 annually ([28]), but 69% of first-years receive Need-based aidFinancial aid awarded based on your family's ability to pay, as measured by forms like the FAFSA, rather than on achievements. averaging $32,728 ([35]).
Saint Joseph's Lancaster merges Jesuit values with hands-on healthcare training in a small-city setting. Its clinical programs deliver strong ROI—nursing graduates outearn peers by 50% ([25], [26])—while maintaining the mentorship-focused culture Jesuit schools are known for ([16], [21]). The campus's integration with Lancaster's medical community gives students early professional connections ([22], [23]).