Catholic colleges that pay for themselves fastest in Pennsylvania
Catholic colleges ranked by how many years of extra earnings, above a high school graduate’s, cover four years of net price.
Catholic colleges that pay for themselves fastest in Pennsylvania11 schools
11 schools qualify, ranked by payback years.
How this list is made
- Schools in Pennsylvania.
- Catholic undergraduate colleges on the Compass. Seminaries and graduate-only schools are not counted.
- Faith grade B or better (Faith score 70 or higher). Cost and outcomes never change a grade.
- Has median earnings ten years after enrolling and a net price from federal data (College Scorecard), and those earnings are above a high school graduate’s ($48,360 a year: median weekly earnings of $930 for full-time workers with a high school diploma, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Payback years = four years of net price ÷ (earnings − a high school graduate’s earnings). Ordered by payback years, fewest first. A simple estimate: it leaves out interest, taxes and earnings growth.
Updated Oct. 12, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- Pays back in about 3.1 years
- Earnings $86,881 ten years out
- 2
Villanova University
Villanova, PA · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 3.4 years
- Earnings $100,423 ten years out
- 3
University of Scranton
Scranton, PA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- Pays back in about 5.0 years
- Earnings $74,652 ten years out
- 4
Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, PA · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 5.7 years
- Earnings $74,742 ten years out
- 5
Saint Francis University
Loretto, PA · Private nonprofitHonor Roll- Pays back in about 6.8 years
- Earnings $62,101 ten years out
- 6
Saint Vincent College
Latrobe, PA · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 8.1 years
- Earnings $59,982 ten years out
- 7
King's College
Wilkes-Barre, PA · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 8.3 years
- Earnings $59,498 ten years out
- 8
DeSales University
Center Valley, PA · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 9.8 years
- Earnings $61,295 ten years out
- 9
Neumann University
Aston, PA · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 11.8 years
- Earnings $57,817 ten years out
- 10
Marywood University
Scranton, PA · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 12.5 years
- Earnings $55,817 ten years out
- 11
Alvernia University
Reading, PA · Private nonprofit- Pays back in about 16.8 years
- Earnings $55,055 ten years out
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia | $29,689 | $25,500 | $86,881 | 79% |
| Villanova University | $43,756 | $25,874 | $100,423 | 92% |
| University of Scranton | $32,568 | $27,000 | $74,652 | 80% |
| Duquesne University | $37,730 | $26,244 | $74,742 | 77% |
| Saint Francis University | $23,526 | $27,000 | $62,101 | 74% |
| Saint Vincent College | $23,510 | $27,000 | $59,982 | 69% |
| King's College | $23,093 | $27,000 | $59,498 | 60% |
| DeSales University | $31,643 | $25,788 | $61,295 | 72% |
| Neumann University | $27,804 | $27,000 | $57,817 | 54% |
| Marywood University | $23,388 | $26,186 | $55,817 | 72% |
| Alvernia University | $28,138 | $27,000 | $55,055 | 56% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.