Behavioral Sciences at Saint Francis University

Borrowing $47,439 for a degree that typically leads to first-year earnings around $35,410 creates an immediate financial challenge—that debt load is nearly 34% higher than what similar behavioral sciences programs produce nationally. Saint Francis sits in the bottom 13th percentile nationally for debt burden in this field, meaning 87% of comparable programs send graduates out with less debt. Pennsylvania's other behavioral sciences programs average $33,220 in debt, making Saint Francis's figure about $14,000 higher than the state norm.

The earnings estimate here comes from national peers since Saint Francis's own graduate numbers were too small to report publicly. Similar programs in Pennsylvania suggest slightly higher first-year earnings ($38,391), but even using that more optimistic figure, you'd still be looking at a debt load exceeding typical first-year income. For a field that doesn't command premium starting salaries, entering the workforce with debt this substantial means years of constrained financial choices—delayed savings, limited housing options, postponed major purchases.

The practical question is whether Saint Francis offers something specific—research opportunities, clinical placements, graduate school placement rates—that justifies taking on 76% more debt than the national median for this degree. Without that compelling differentiator, you're paying a significant premium for outcomes that appear roughly in line with what less expensive programs deliver.