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Marshall University

Public Huntington, WV · Urban · Southeast · 100% data reported · Agent Insights · Claim Your School's Profile ➜
50%
Graduation Rate
$46,354
Earnings (10yr)
$7,502
Net Price
96%
Acceptance Rate
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Why Marshall University Matters

Marshall University is a public research university in Huntington, WV 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: graduate earnings well above the typical college.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Public Research University
Carnegie Class
R2 · High Research
Enrollment
7,266
Setting
Urban
Primary Strengths
Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Humanities, Education

Why students choose Marshall University

Research-intensive environment
Active labs and research-active faculty
Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Outstanding value
Low net price against strong graduate earnings

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C+
Top 42% overall
C+
Earnings
$46,354 median
A-
Value
6.2× net price
A-
Affordability
$7,502/yr net
C-
Graduation
50% graduate
C+
Social Mobility
1.7% climb Q1→Q5
F
Selectivity
96% admit rate
D
Diversity
0.33 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

Marshall University is a solid choice for students looking for a supportive environment to pursue their education. With an acceptance rate of 96%, it welcomes a diverse group of learners, making it easier for many to access higher education. Students here often dive into fields like Health Professions, Business, Education, Psychology, and Humanities, which align well with job market demands.

When it comes to post-graduation life, Marshall graduates see a median earnings of $46,354 after ten years, which can be a promising start for many. While the graduation rate is at 50%, those who do complete their degrees often find themselves with decent earning potential, reflecting a pathway to upward mobility. The affordability factor is also notable, as many students benefit from financial aid, highlighted by a Pell Grant rate of 39%.

Looking at the cost, the net price after aid stands at $7,502, which is quite manageable compared to many institutions. Graduates leave with a median debt of $23,250, a figure that many find reasonable given their earning potential. This environment suits students who are motivated and willing to engage with their studies, particularly those who appreciate a community-focused approach to learning.

Rankings

1

Can I Get In?

How selective Marshall University is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Marshall University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Marshall University, located in Huntington, West Virginia, keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 96% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,061. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 50%.

Acceptance Rate 96%
Retention Rate 72%
SAT Average 1061
ACT Midpoint 22
SAT Range 910–1150
ACT Range 19–24
Full-Time Faculty 75%
Faculty Salary (mo) $8,576
Student–Faculty Ratio 16:1
Diversity Index 0.33
First-Gen Students 37%
Applicants 6,356
Admitted 6,158
2

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 Marshall University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

When weighing the true cost of attending Marshall University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $20,342 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $7,502 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $4,648 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $23,250.

$9,162
In-State Tuition
$20,342
Out-of-State
$7,502
Avg Net Price
$23,250
Median Debt
39%
Pell Grant Rate
40%
Federal Loan Rate

What Families Actually Pay

$4,648
Family Income $0–$30K
$4,430
Family Income $30K–$48K
$6,837
Family Income $48K–$75K
$15,076
Family Income $110K+
3

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Graduate Outcomes

Is Marshall University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Marshall University earn a median of $46,354, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.

$39,561
6 Years After Entry
$43,449
8 Years
$46,354
10 Years
0.5x
Debt-to-Earnings
56%
Earning > $25K

Earnings Trajectory

$39,561 6yr $43,449 8yr $46,354 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

29%
100% (530)
29%
100% (530)
29%
100% (530)
29%
100% (530)

Where Grads Go

Top employers of Marshall University’s MBA graduates, by hires reported in the school’s employment report.

How Marshall Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation50%Earnings 10yr$46KNet Price$8KRetention72%Median Debt$23KPell Grant Rate39%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$5K$0-30K$4K$30-48K$7K$48-75K$15K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%9.4%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%17.6%MOBILITY1.66%
4

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 Marshall University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Marshall 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 1.66%, well above the typical college. About 9.4% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 17.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $76,400, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.

1.66%
Mobility Rate
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
17.6%
Success Rate
If bottom 20% get in
9.4%
From Bottom 20%
Share of students
$76,400
Parent Median Income

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Marshall 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 Marshall University, with an economic connectedness score of 1.40 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

1.40
Economic Connectedness
Cross-class friendships
-0.00
Friending Bias
Lower = more inclusive
8.9%
Volunteering Rate
0.99
Support Ratio
Community support

Innovation & Knowledge Creation

Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education

Marshall University produces inventors at a measurable rate.

0.13%
Inventor Rate
Top 91% nationally
34
Patent Citations
Downstream influence

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Endowment
Total Expenses
Federal Grants
$-10,506,501
Investment Income

Top Programs

The fields Marshall University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Marshall University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +

Marshall University, located in Huntington, West Virginia, keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 96% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,061. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 50%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Marshall University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +

When weighing the true cost of attending Marshall University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $20,342 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $7,502 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $4,648 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $23,250.

Is Marshall University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +

Ten years out, alumni of Marshall University earn a median of $46,354, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.

Does Marshall University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes +

Marshall 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 1.66%, well above the typical college. About 9.4% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 17.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $76,400, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is Marshall 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 Marshall University, with an economic connectedness score of 1.40 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

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