Marquette University
#1 Best Online Colleges in Wisconsin- Graduation Rate
- 82% A-
- Most students who enroll finish their degree here
- Earnings (10yr)
- $78,257 A
- Top 4% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $31,487 F
- 84% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 81% C-
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 15.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $15.5 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Online Colleges in Wisconsin.
Every $1 spent returns $15.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,832,445.
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 92% more than the national college median.
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A 82% graduation rate — 43% above the national average.
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Inventor rate in the top 24% nationally — patents, startups, and new technology flow from its graduates.
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Every $1 invested returns $15.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 1.0%
- Top 24%
- Patents
- 123
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 216
- Downstream influence
Why Marquette University Matters
Marquette University is a private research university in Milwaukee, WI and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong research base, an unusually high rate of inventors and patents, and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 4% 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
- 7,660
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- 30
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, Health Professions, Social Sciences
Why students choose Marquette 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 81% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1200–1360. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $31,487 a year after grants and scholarships — 84% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $78,257 ten years after enrolling — 92% above the typical college, against $23,940 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.1% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 68% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.68 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Marquette University is a solid choice for students looking for a well-rounded education in fields like Business, Biology, Engineering, and Health Professions. With an enrollment of about 7,660 students and an acceptance rate of 81%, it welcomes a diverse range of individuals, making it an accessible option for many. Students here can expect a supportive environment where they can delve deep into their studies while also engaging in a vibrant campus life.
Looking beyond graduation, Marquette graduates earn a median salary of $78,257 after ten years, which is a strong indicator of the return on investment for their education. This financial outcome suggests that students who complete their degrees here can expect to be in a good position to thrive in their careers. Affordability is also a consideration, especially with a net price of $31,487 after financial aid, making it a manageable expense for many families.
On the practical side, students typically leave with a median debt of $23,940, which is relatively low compared to the potential earnings. The 18% of students receiving Pell Grants indicates that there’s support for those from lower-income backgrounds. Marquette tends to attract students who are motivated and ready to take advantage of the opportunities available, making it a nurturing place for those committed to their future success.
Rankings
- #1 Best Online Colleges in Wisconsin
- #1 Best Business Colleges in Wisconsin
- #1 Best Psychology Colleges in Wisconsin
- #1 Best Biology Colleges in Wisconsin
- #1 Best Communications Colleges in Wisconsin
- #2 Best Colleges in Wisconsin
- #3 Best Bachelor's Programs in Wisconsin
- #3 Best Master's Programs in Wisconsin
Can I Get In?
How selective Marquette 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 Marquette University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Marquette University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 81%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,310. The graduation rate is roughly 82%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 81%
- Retention Rate
- 91%
- SAT Average
- 1310
- ACT Midpoint
- 28
- SAT Range
- 1200–1360
- ACT Range
- 26–31
- Full-Time Faculty
- 59%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $11,059
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 13:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.53
- First-Gen Students
- 19%
- Applicants
- 15,883
- Admitted
- 13,851
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2025-26
The acceptance rate tells you how hard Marquette 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. 12% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.
- Yield Rate
- 12%
- of admits enroll
- Submitted SAT
- 15%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 26%
- of enrolled freshmen
Test-optional, in practice. Only about 41% 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 Marquette University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Marquette University is $51,170, 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 $31,487. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $22,269 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,940 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $51,170
- Out-of-State
- $51,170
- Avg Net Price
- $31,487
- Median Debt
- $23,940
- Pell Grant Rate
- 18%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 38%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $22,269
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $18,916
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $27,378
- Family Income $110K+
- $36,813
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 Marquette 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 Marquette University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Marquette University earn a median of $78,257, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $65,241
- 8 Years
- $71,388
- 10 Years
- $78,257
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.31x
- Earning > $25K
- 86%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (1,329)
- 67%
- 100% (1,329)
- 67%
- 100% (1,329)
- 67%
- 100% (1,329)
- 67%
Where Grads Go
Top employers of Marquette University’s MBA graduates, by hires reported in the school’s employment report.
- Advocate Aurora ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2024
- Ascension ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2024
- Baird ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2024
- Fiserv ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2024
- GE HealthCare ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2024
- Harley-Davidson ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2024
- Husco ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2024
- Johnson Controls ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2024
- Kohler Co. ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2024
- Kohl’s Corporation ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2024
- Komatsu ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2024
- Milwaukee Brewers ✓ VerifiedOther · Class of 2024
How Marquette 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 Marquette University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Marquette University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $31,487/year ($125,948 total). Graduates earn $78,257 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,958,393 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,832,445 (15.5× your investment). The median debt is $23,940, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 82% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $125,948
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,958,393
- Net Return
- $1,832,445
- ROI Multiple
- 15.5×
- Cost Per Year
- $31,487
- Median Debt
- $23,940
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 82%
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 Marquette University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Marquette University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.15%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower: only about 2.8% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 41.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $124,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.15%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 41.6%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 2.8%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $169,559
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Marquette University produces inventors at an above-average rate (top 24% nationally), with 123 patents tied to its graduates.
- Inventor Rate
- 1.00%
- Top 24% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 123
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 216
- Downstream influence
- Inventors From Low-Income
- 1.35%
- Bottom-20% families
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-37,411,000
Top Programs
The fields Marquette 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 23% $74,993 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 18% $39,629 early-career
- Health Professions 11% $74,719 early-career
- Social Sciences 11% $51,775 early-career
- Engineering 9% $87,866 early-career
- Communications 7% $49,653 early-career
- Psychology 6% $43,729 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 3% $74,302 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 Marquette 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 Marquette University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Marquette University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 81%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,310. The graduation rate is roughly 82%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Marquette University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Marquette University is $51,170, 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 $31,487. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $22,269 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,940 in federal student loans.
Is Marquette University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Marquette University earn a median of $78,257, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
Does Marquette University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Marquette University is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.15%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower: only about 2.8% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 41.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $124,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Marquette 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 Marquette University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.68, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.04), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Does Marquette University offer Early Decision?
No. Marquette University does not report a binding Early Decision plan (2025-26 Common Data Set).
Is Marquette University really test-optional?
In practice, yes. Only about 41% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at Marquette University (2025-26 Common Data Set).
What percentage of admitted students enroll at Marquette University?
About 12% of admitted students choose to enroll at Marquette University — its yield rate (2025-26 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 Marquette University.
- University of St ThomasSaint Paul, MN · Close peer76% grad $73,739 earn 85% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of DaytonDayton, OH · Close peer81% grad $75,537 earn 65% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Gonzaga UniversitySpokane, WA · Close peer87% grad $78,892 earn 82% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of DenverDenver, CO · Close peer77% grad $71,155 earn 78% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- American UniversityWashington, DC · Close peer77% grad $77,370 earn 62% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Butler UniversityIndianapolis, IN · Close peer80% grad $77,235 earn 85% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Marquette 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 Marquette University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.68, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.04), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note