Admit rate has ranged 75%–80% over the last 5 years. 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.
The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) in West Hartford, Connecticut, is a small, Catholic liberal arts institution that trades a high-profile social scene for an intensely personal, hands-on education. With an average class size of 14 and a focus on service learning, USJ is built for students who want to be known by their professors and make a tangible impact in fields like nursing, pharmacy, and the sciences. The campus vibe is quiet and low-key, offering a supportive, close-knit community minutes from the resources of Connecticut's capital city.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Letters of recommendation
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
College-prep program
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
838
In-state tuition
$47,278
Out-of-state tuition
$47,278
Graduation Rate
64%
On-Campus Housing
50%
Average Class Size
14
Student-Faculty Ratio
9:1
Median Earnings (10yr)
$59,908
First-Year Retention Rate
81%
Average Financial Aid Package
$26,670
Service Learning Participation
90%
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$59,908
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.1×
Median debt at graduation
$27,000
Graduation rate
64%
First-year retention
82%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
61%
Pell (lower-income) share
33%
First-gen share (among federal-aid recipients)
42%
Financial health
3.0 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$70,705
Social Work$36,848
Psychology, General$28,598
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.
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
90
Summer high
82°F
Winter low
25°F
Annual rain
54.4"
Annual snow
30"
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).
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
78
Scholarly works
1,423
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
3.0%
Bottom → top quintile
38%
From bottom quintile
8%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at University of Saint Joseph?
University of Saint Joseph's acceptance rate is approximately 79% (West Hartford, CT), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for University of Saint Joseph?
Admitted students at University of Saint Joseph typically score 850–1170 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does University of Saint Joseph cost?
At University of Saint Joseph, the average net price (after aid) is about $27,989 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend University of Saint Joseph?
University of Saint Joseph enrolls approximately 838 undergraduate students.
Where is University of Saint Joseph located?
University of Saint Joseph is located in West Hartford, CT.
Admissions
Admissions at the University of Saint Joseph are moderately selective, with a process that emphasizes academic preparation over cutthroat competition. The university offers an Early Bird Admit day, which provides a same-day, non-binding admissions decision, but does not appear to offer a binding Early Decision program. The rate—the percentage of admitted students who enroll—is reported to be low, at around 12%. While the is the definitive source for understanding how a college weighs factors like demonstrated interest, the specific USJ CDS for 2025-2026 does not list demonstrated interest among its considered factors, suggesting it is not a primary driver of admissions decisions here. The focus is squarely on the applicant's academic record and readiness for USJ's intimate, engaged learning environment.
Selectivity: The admissions process is less selective.
Application Process: Features a non-binding Early Bird Admit day for same-day decisions.
Yield: The percentage of accepted students who enroll is low.
Admission Factors: The Common Data Set does not indicate that demonstrated interest is a considered factor in admissions decisions.
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.
Academics at USJ are defined by exceptionally small classes and a curriculum designed to connect learning with doing. With a 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio and an average class size of just 14 students, the classroom experience is inherently personal and discussion-based. The university emphasizes experiential learning, with a notably high 90% of students participating in service learning. A strong majority (66%) also take part in first-year experiences designed to ease the transition to college. Undergraduate programs span traditional liberal arts and pre-professional tracks, with notable offerings in biology, business administration, chemistry, and counseling & applied behavior studies. The university also promotes accelerated pathways, such as a 3+3 Doctor of Pharmacy program, allowing dedicated students to fast-track their professional goals. This is an institution where teaching is the priority, and students are expected to be active participants in their education.
Life at USJ is best described as a tight-knit, residential community with a notably quiet social atmosphere. Half of the student body lives in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing, while the other half lives off-campus. The campus is located in West Hartford, minutes from Hartford, Connecticut's capital, providing access to corporate, medical, and cultural resources. Student life is actively organized around clubs, athletic teams, community service, and campus ministry, offering a variety of structured ways to get involved. However, reviews consistently describe the social scene as "quiet and low-key," with little to no party scene or drug use on campus, attributed in part to strict policies and enforcement. The university's identity is grounded in its heritage as a Catholic institution, expressing its tradition in an ecumenical and critical manner, which informs the community's values and activities.
USJ graduates enter the workforce with solid earning potential, particularly from its strong professional programs. The first-year retention rate is a healthy 81%, indicating students are generally satisfied and successful after their initial year. The four-year Student Right-to-Know graduation rate averages 63%. Recent graduate median earnings are reported to be strong, with one source citing $67,243, and graduates in certain high-demand fields reporting median earnings around $73,150. The university's endowment saw a return of 8.26 million dollars. Ultimately, a USJ degree provides a tangible return, with a significant majority of graduates earning more than a high school graduate.
The University of Saint Joseph is committed to making its education accessible through substantial financial aid. The average financial aid package for students is $26,670, which significantly reduces the sticker price. The university offers a range of scholarships and grants, including a renewable $3,000 per year scholarship for eligible students, totaling up to $12,000 over four years. For students who demonstrate financial need, USJ provides a need-based USJ Grant, though the amount varies based on the individual's . The university encourages all prospective students to use its Calculator to get a personalized estimate of their financial support options. While the sources do not specify a "no-loan" policy or a commitment to meet 100% of demonstrated need, the substantial average aid package indicates a strong institutional investment in student affordability.
The University of Saint Joseph stands out for its unwavering commitment to a small-scale, high-touch educational model in a world of ever-larger lecture halls. It’s not for everyone—the social scene is subdued, and the campus culture is deeply shaped by its Catholic, service-oriented mission. But for students who thrive on personal attention and want their education to have immediate, practical relevance, USJ is a powerful fit. The 9:1 student-faculty ratio and 90% service learning participation rate aren't marketing points; they are the foundational elements of the experience. This is a place where you’re a name, not a number, and where your professors will know your career ambitions well enough to help you craft an accelerated path to a Pharm.D. or a standout start in the sciences. It offers the supportive community of a small college with the professional opportunities of a city just minutes away, creating a unique niche for the student who wants to be pushed academically within a close-knit, values-driven environment.
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