Marist University
#4 Most Test-Optional-Friendly Colleges- Graduation Rate
- 80% B+
- Most students who enroll finish their degree here
- Earnings (10yr)
- $77,819 A
- Top 5% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $41,544 F
- 142% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 57% B
- Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 12.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $12.4 over 20 years. Ranked #4 in Most Test-Optional-Friendly Colleges.
Every $1 spent returns $12.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,890,231.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduates earn 91% more than the national college median.
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A 80% graduation rate — 40% above the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $12.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 0.4%
- Top 52%
- Patents
- 65
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 21
- Downstream influence
Why Marist University Matters
Marist University is a private university in Poughkeepsie, NY and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 5% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 5,182
- Setting
- Suburban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Communications, Psychology, Computer Science & IT
Why students choose Marist 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
Competitive — admits about 57% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1190–1340. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $41,544 a year after grants and scholarships — 142% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $77,819 ten years after enrolling — 91% above the typical college, against $25,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.7% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 38% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.85 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of around 5,182 students, Marist University in Poughkeepsie, NY, is a great fit for those seeking a personalized education in a lively campus environment. The 57% acceptance rate suggests that the school is accessible to a diverse group of students. Here, students dive into programs like Business & Marketing, Communications, Psychology, Computer Science, and Visual & Performing Arts, which are all designed to equip them with skills relevant to today's job market.
Looking ahead to life after graduation, Marist graduates see an impressive 10-year earnings average of $77,819. This figure speaks volumes about the return on investment for students. While not every student receives a Pell Grant—only about 14%—those who do are likely to find support that helps bridge financial gaps. The combination of solid post-graduation earnings and a supportive community helps many graduates make strides in their careers.
In terms of costs, the net price after aid is about $41,544, and the median debt for students stands at $25,000. This financial picture means that many students can manage their debt while reaping the benefits of a quality education. Those who thrive at Marist often appreciate a strong sense of community and are driven to succeed, making the most of their time in this vibrant academic environment.
Rankings
- #4 Most Test-Optional-Friendly Colleges
- #10 Highest-Paying Colleges for Criminal Justice
- #11 Highest-Paying Colleges for Education
- #15 Best Communications Colleges in New York
- #17 Best Business Colleges in New York
- #18 Best MBA Programs for Leadership
- #22 Best MBA Programs in New York
- #25 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in New York
Can I Get In?
How selective Marist 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 Marist University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Poughkeepsie, New York, Marist University offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 57% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,295. The graduation rate is roughly 80%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 57%
- Retention Rate
- 86%
- SAT Average
- 1295
- ACT Midpoint
- 28
- SAT Range
- 1190–1340
- ACT Range
- 25–31
- Full-Time Faculty
- 45%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $11,066
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 16:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.46
- First-Gen Students
- 19%
- Applicants
- 10,966
- Admitted
- 6,892
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2024-25
The acceptance rate tells you how hard Marist 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. 20% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.
- Yield Rate
- 20%
- of admits enroll
- Submitted SAT
- 11%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 3%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Early Decision Admit Rate
- 80.4%
- vs 56.5% overall
Applying early pays off here. Of 204 Early Decision applicants, 164 were admitted — a 80.4% admit rate, roughly 1.4× the 56.5% rate for the overall pool. That binding round alone filled about 13% of the entering class (164 of 1,267 first-years). The catch: Early Decision is a commitment you make before you can compare aid offers.
Test-optional, in practice. Only about 14% 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 Marist University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Marist University is $47,750, 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 $41,544. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $26,083 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $47,750
- Out-of-State
- $47,750
- Avg Net Price
- $41,544
- Median Debt
- $25,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 14%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 46%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $26,083
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $27,200
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $36,178
- Family Income $110K+
- $45,643
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 Marist 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 Marist University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Marist University earn a median of $77,819, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $62,546
- 8 Years
- $70,306
- 10 Years
- $77,819
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.32x
- Earning > $25K
- 80%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (873)
- 77%
- 100% (873)
- 77%
- 100% (873)
- 77%
- 100% (873)
- 77%
How Marist Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Marist University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Marist University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $41,544/year ($166,176 total). Graduates earn $77,819 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $2,056,407 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,890,231 (12.4× your investment). The median debt is $25,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 80% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $166,176
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $2,056,407
- Net Return
- $1,890,231
- ROI Multiple
- 12.4×
- Cost Per Year
- $41,544
- Median Debt
- $25,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 80%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Marist University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Marist University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.72%, well above the typical college. About 4.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 35.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $119,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.72%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 35.2%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 4.9%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $162,087
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Marist University produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 65 patents tied to its graduates.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.42%
- Top 52% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 65
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 21
- Downstream influence
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-35,440,442
Top Programs
The fields Marist 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.
- Business & Marketing 27% $72,032 early-career
- Communications 14% $48,819 early-career
- Psychology 10% $52,195 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 8% $94,329 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 8% $58,542 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 6% $39,882 early-career
- Criminal Justice 5% $40,390 early-career
- Education 4% $57,918 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 Marist 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
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Marist University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Poughkeepsie, New York, Marist University offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 57% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,295. The graduation rate is roughly 80%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Marist University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Marist University is $47,750, 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 $41,544. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $26,083 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,000 in federal student loans.
Is Marist University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Marist University earn a median of $77,819, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
Does Marist University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Marist University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.72%, well above the typical college. About 4.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 35.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $119,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Marist 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 Marist University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.85, 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 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Does Marist University offer Early Decision, and does it improve admission chances?
Yes. Marist University offers a binding Early Decision plan, and it carries a real advantage: Early Decision applicants were admitted at 80%, about 1.4 times the overall 57% acceptance rate, and ED filled roughly 13% of the entering class. Because ED is binding, it makes sense only if Marist University is a clear first choice and you can commit before comparing aid offers (2024-25 Common Data Set).
Is Marist University really test-optional?
In practice, yes. Only about 14% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at Marist University (2024-25 Common Data Set).
What percentage of admitted students enroll at Marist University?
About 20% of admitted students choose to enroll at Marist 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 Marist University.
- American UniversityWashington, DC · Close peer77% grad $77,370 earn 62% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Southern Methodist UniversityDallas, TX · Close peer84% grad $78,354 earn 63% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA · Close peer71% grad $89,812 earn 62% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Sacred Heart UniversityFairfield, CT · Close peer74% grad $75,059 earn 65% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Loyola Marymount UniversityLos Angeles, CA · Close peer79% grad $78,349 earn 45% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of San DiegoSan Diego, CA · Close peer83% grad $86,522 earn 52% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Marist 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 Marist University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.85, 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 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note