Duquesne University
- Graduation Rate
- 77% B+
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $74,742 A
- Top 6% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $37,730 F
- 120% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 84% C-
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 12.3× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $12.3 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $12.3 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,705,906.
What The Data Says
-
A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
-
Graduates earn 83% more than the national college median.
-
A 77% graduation rate — 34% above the national average.
-
Every $1 invested returns $12.3 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Duquesne University Matters
Duquesne University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, PA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong research base and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 6% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R2 · High Research
- Enrollment
- 5,350
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- 30
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Education, Mathematics & Statistics
Why students choose Duquesne University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 84% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1180–1340. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $37,730 a year after grants and scholarships — 120% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $74,742 ten years after enrolling — 83% above the typical college, against $26,244 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.68 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Duquesne University is a great fit for students looking to blend a solid education with a supportive community. With an acceptance rate of 84%, it welcomes a diverse range of applicants. Students here often dive into programs like Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Education, Biology & Biomedical, and Communications, which are all geared towards preparing graduates for real-world challenges and career opportunities.
Looking at what happens after graduation, the numbers tell a promising story. Graduates earn an average of $74,742 within ten years of finishing their degree. This is a strong earning potential, especially when you consider the relatively affordable cost of attendance. Many students also benefit from financial aid, making it easier to manage the costs associated with college.
When we consider the financial aspects, the net price after aid stands at $37,730, and the median debt is around $26,244. This debt load is manageable for many students, especially given the earning potential after graduation. Those who thrive here tend to be proactive and engaged, taking advantage of both academic and extracurricular opportunities to maximize their college experience.
Rankings
- #19 Best MBA Programs for General Management
- #28 Best MBA Programs for Supply Chain Management
- #42 Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in Pennsylvania
- #43 Best Online Education Programs in Pennsylvania
- #45 Best Communications Colleges in Pennsylvania
- #47 Best Online Computer Science Programs in Pennsylvania
- #48 Best Online Nursing Programs in Pennsylvania
- #49 Highest-Paying Colleges for Education
Can I Get In?
How selective Duquesne University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Duquesne University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Duquesne University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 84%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,276. The graduation rate is roughly 77%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 84%
- Retention Rate
- 84%
- SAT Average
- 1276
- ACT Midpoint
- 27
- SAT Range
- 1180–1340
- ACT Range
- 26–32
- Full-Time Faculty
- 48%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,204
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 12:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.40
- First-Gen Students
- 17%
- Applicants
- 12,376
- Admitted
- 10,828
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2024-25
The acceptance rate tells you how hard Duquesne University is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 13% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.
- Yield Rate
- 13%
- of admits enroll
- Submitted SAT
- 20%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 4%
- of enrolled freshmen
There is an early lane. Duquesne offers Early Action, so you can apply ahead of the regular deadline and hear back sooner without committing to enroll.
Test-optional, in practice. Only about 24% of enrolled freshmen submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive here, not a long shot.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Duquesne University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Duquesne University is $48,986, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $37,730. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $29,986 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,244 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $48,986
- Out-of-State
- $48,986
- Avg Net Price
- $37,730
- Median Debt
- $26,244
- Pell Grant Rate
- 20%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 67%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $29,986
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $31,729
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $32,102
- Family Income $110K+
- $41,273
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Duquesne University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Duquesne University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Duquesne University earn a median of $74,742, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $62,627
- 8 Years
- $70,050
- 10 Years
- $74,742
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.35x
- Earning > $25K
- 82%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (803)
- 69%
- 100% (803)
- 69%
- 100% (803)
- 69%
- 100% (803)
- 69%
How Duquesne Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Duquesne University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Duquesne University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $37,730/year ($150,920 total). Graduates earn $74,742 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,856,826 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,705,906 (12.3× your investment). The median debt is $26,244, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 77% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $150,920
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,856,826
- Net Return
- $1,705,906
- ROI Multiple
- 12.3×
- Cost Per Year
- $37,730
- Median Debt
- $26,244
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 77%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-59,177,000
Top Programs
The fields Duquesne University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Health Professions 40% $72,361 early-career
- Business & Marketing 14% $64,948 early-career
- Education 7% $48,651 early-career
- Mathematics & Statistics 7% $51,775 early-career
- Social Sciences 5% $40,390 early-career
- Psychology 5% $33,206 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 4% $70,519 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 4% $42,300 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Duquesne University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-AI/ML Engineer$156,000 · 23% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Computer Vision Engineer$145,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Duquesne University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Duquesne University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 84%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,276. The graduation rate is roughly 77%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Duquesne University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Duquesne University is $48,986, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $37,730. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $29,986 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,244 in federal student loans.
Is Duquesne University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Duquesne University earn a median of $74,742, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
How Connected Is Duquesne University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Duquesne University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.68, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Does Duquesne University offer Early Decision?
No. Duquesne University does not report a binding Early Decision plan, though it does offer a non-binding Early Action option (2024-25 Common Data Set).
Is Duquesne University really test-optional?
In practice, yes. Only about 24% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at Duquesne University (2024-25 Common Data Set).
What percentage of admitted students enroll at Duquesne University?
About 13% of admitted students choose to enroll at Duquesne University — its yield rate (2024-25 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Duquesne University.
- University of DenverDenver, CO · Close peer77% grad $71,155 earn 78% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Butler UniversityIndianapolis, IN · Close peer80% grad $77,235 earn 85% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Gonzaga UniversitySpokane, WA · Close peer87% grad $78,892 earn 82% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- University of St ThomasSaint Paul, MN · Close peer76% grad $73,739 earn 85% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Seattle UniversitySeattle, WA · Close peer74% grad $75,272 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Creighton UniversityOmaha, NE · Close peer82% grad $73,911 earn 80% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Duquesne University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Duquesne University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.68, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note