Engineering at Saint Francis University

Pennsylvania's engineering landscape shows considerable variation, with bachelor's graduates earning anywhere from the mid-$60s to over $76,000 in their first year. Based on comparable programs across the state, Saint Francis likely produces outcomes near the middle of this range—around $65,000 in first-year earnings with roughly $26,500 in debt. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41 sits comfortably below the concerning threshold of 1.0, meaning students would owe less than half their first-year salary.

The challenge is context. While that estimated $65,000 starting salary represents solid entry into the engineering field, it trails the national median of $68,000 and falls well short of what Pennsylvania's top engineering programs produce. Lafayette College graduates, for instance, start nearly $12,000 higher. For a school with a 77% admission rate and modest SAT scores, Saint Francis may be serving students who need an accessible path into engineering—but that accessibility doesn't appear to translate into premium outcomes.

The financial structure seems workable: debt levels mirror both state and national norms, and engineering careers typically offer strong earning growth beyond that first year. However, parents should recognize they're looking at middle-of-the-pack estimates in a state where stronger programs exist. If your student has the academic profile for more competitive Pennsylvania engineering schools, those options merit serious consideration.