Research.com
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia logo

Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia

#1225 in US ranking Philadelphia, PA
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Programs:
4 years or more

Represent this school?

Update this profile on Research.com

Cost

Cost / year
$70,389
Tuition & fees
$55,380
Avg. aid
$30,721
Receiving aid
100%

Admissions

Acceptance rate
89%
SAT range
1170–1350
ACT range
28–31

Outcomes

Graduation rate
79%
Median salary
$63,129
1 yr after graduation

What is the accreditation of Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia?

Saint Joseph's University is institutionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Institutional accreditation evaluates the university as a whole; it is distinct from accreditation or approval that may apply to an individual business, pharmacy, nursing, or other professional program.

Accreditation is relevant to federal financial-aid eligibility and can matter when students seek to transfer credits or pursue further study. It does not, by itself, guarantee that another college will accept a particular course. Applicants to licensed professions should separately verify their specific program's current accreditation or approval and the requirements of the state where they intend to practice. Those checks are especially important across programs incorporated through the university's mergers.

What are the admission requirements at Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia?

First-year applicants generally apply to Saint Joseph's with a completed application, secondary-school record, and information about their academic preparation. A high school diploma or recognized equivalent is expected before enrollment. Recommendations are part of the university's reported admissions requirements, while class rank and completion of a college-preparatory curriculum are considered rather than universally required.

Saint Joseph's reports that SAT and ACT scores are considered but not required for general first-year admission. In its reported entering class, 21% submitted SAT scores and 2% submitted ACT scores; the median scores among submitters therefore do not describe the entire class. Applicants should check whether their chosen program or scholarship has a separate testing, prerequisite, interview, or deadline rule. International applicants may also need to document English-language proficiency, including through TOEFL where applicable.

Admission is not open enrollment. In the reported admissions cycle, the university admitted 9,443 of 10,631 first-year applicants, an acceptance rate of about 89%. That institution-wide figure does not establish the admission odds for a particular professional program or for an applicant with a specific academic record.

What are the application fees and waivers at Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia?

Application-fee rules should be checked for the specific Saint Joseph's application route before submission. An undergraduate application fee is separate from any enrollment or housing deposit, and a fee shown for one applicant category should not be assumed to apply to transfer, graduate, or professional applicants.

Applicants who may qualify for a need-based waiver can use the fee-waiver question in their application, if offered, or ask undergraduate admission how to request one before paying. The amount due, waiver documentation, and timing shown in the application portal are the practical details to confirm; paying first may make a later waiver request more complicated.

What types of ROTC programs are available at Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia?

Saint Joseph's students have Air Force ROTC access associated with the university and an Army ROTC option through a cooperating institution. These arrangements are not interchangeable: students considering Army ROTC should confirm the host unit, travel expectations, and how military-science courses fit their Saint Joseph's schedule.

ROTC participation can involve physical-fitness and citizenship requirements, and a scholarship is not automatic upon joining. Scholarship recipients and students who commission generally take on military-service commitments governed by their branch and contract. Prospective cadets should discuss eligibility, course registration, financial terms, and service obligations directly with the relevant ROTC unit before relying on ROTC funding in an enrollment budget.

What are the requirements for transfer students at Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia?

Saint Joseph's accepts transfer applicants for fall and spring entry and generally considers credits earned at other accredited institutions. Admission as a transfer student and acceptance of individual courses toward a degree are separate decisions.

Applicants should be prepared to submit official transcripts from every college attended and, when requested, secondary-school records. The university may recognize eligible examination or evaluated learning credit, including CLEP, DSST, and certain American Council on Education recommendations; that does not mean every credit will satisfy a major requirement. Before enrolling, a transfer applicant should request an official course-by-course evaluation and review the catalog's residency requirement - the portion of a degree that must be completed at Saint Joseph's. Sequenced health and professional programs may have additional prerequisites or limited entry points.

What types of study abroad programs are available at Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia?

Saint Joseph's offers international-study opportunities that can include longer-term study abroad and shorter faculty-led experiences. The available destinations, terms, and academic arrangements depend on the student's program and the university's current approved offerings.

Students should obtain academic approval before committing to a program, especially if they need courses to satisfy a major, laboratory sequence, clinical requirement, or graduation deadline. They should also compare program charges with their regular Saint Joseph's costs and ask the study-abroad and financial-aid offices which grants, loans, or scholarships can be used. Participation through an approved partner is different from assuming that any overseas course will transfer.

Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia Admissions Factors

SAT range
1170–1350
4001600
ACT range
28–31
136
Acceptance rate
89%

Acceptance rate vs. median

This school
89%
Pennsylvania
81%
US
78%

14% of admitted students enrolled (1,332 of 9,443)

ACT scores of enrolled students

ACT in range 18-23
ACT in range 24-29
ACT in range 30-36

Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia Admissions

Applicants
Total: 10,631
Admission
Total: 9,443
Enrolled
Total: 1,332
Women
Men

How to Apply to Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia

Regular application deadline

February 1

Early Decision

Yes, deadline November 15

Early Action

Yes, deadline November 15

Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia First-Year Students

Where first-year students come from

In-state: 768
Out-of-state: 544
International: 20

Freshmen vs. transfer students

Freshmen: 1,332
Transfer: 137

Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia Admission Requirements

Median composite SAT score

1215

Median composite ACT score

28

Percent of students submitting ACT scores

2%

Percent of students submitting SAT scores

21%

High school completions

General Educational Development (GED) required

Secondary school GPA

Required

Secondary school rank

Considered but not required

Secondary school record

Required

Completion of college-preparatory program

Considered but not required

Recommendations

Required

Formal demonstration of competencies

Considered but not required

Admission test scores

Considered but not required

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language

Required

Other Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)

Neither required nor recommended

Open admission policy

No

Dual credit

No

Credit for life experiences

Yes

Advanced placement (AP) credits

Yes

Special learning opportunities

ROTC-Army

ROTC branch unit at a cooperating host institution

ROTC-Air Force

ROTC branch unit on campus

Study abroad

Yes

Student can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization

Yes

Preparation at another institution required

No

Approved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher

Yes

Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia Transfer Acceptance Rate

Generally accepts credits

Yes

Accept ACE recommendation for credit

Yes

Possible transfer

Fall, Spring

Data last updated on November 2, 2026

Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026

Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.

Recently Published Articles