Niagara University
#3 Best Colleges for Education- Graduation Rate
- 72% B
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $56,196 B+
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $17,248 C
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 87% D+
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 19.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $19.5 over 20 years. Ranked #3 in Best Colleges for Education.
Every $1 spent returns $19.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,278,473.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Earnings 38% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $19.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Niagara University Matters
Niagara University is a private university in Niagara University, NY and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by 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
- Private University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 2,653
- Setting
- Suburban
- Designations
- 30
- Primary Strengths
- Education, Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Social Sciences
Why students choose Niagara 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 87% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1060–1235. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $17,248 a year after grants and scholarships — 1% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $56,196 ten years after enrolling — 38% above the typical college, against $25,475 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.5% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 48% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.57 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an acceptance rate of 87%, Niagara University is a welcoming choice for students looking to dive into fields like Education, Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Social Sciences, and Psychology. This school is particularly well-suited for those who appreciate a supportive environment and want to make meaningful connections with peers and faculty alike. The student body is around 2,653 strong, creating an intimate setting where collaboration and personalized attention can thrive.
After graduation, students can expect to earn around $56,196 within ten years, which reflects a solid return on their investment in education. The affordability factor is significant, with a net price of $17,248 after aid. This means that students can focus on their studies and career aspirations without an overwhelming financial burden, which is essential for those looking to build a future in their chosen field.
When it comes to financial considerations, the median debt stands at $25,475, a manageable amount for many graduates entering the workforce. Students who tend to thrive here are often those who value a close-knit community and hands-on learning experiences. The 27% of students receiving Pell Grants indicates that the university makes an effort to support those with financial needs, further enhancing accessibility for a diverse range of students.
Rankings
- #3 Best Colleges for Education
- #3 Best Bachelor's in Education
- #3 Best Master's in Education
- #3 Best Education Colleges in New York
- #5 Best Online Education Programs in New York
- #8 Best Online Computer Science Programs in New York
- #10 Best MBA Programs in New York
- #10 Best Online Business Programs in New York
Can I Get In?
How selective Niagara 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 Niagara University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Niagara University, located in Niagara University, New York, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 87%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,168. The graduation rate is roughly 72%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 87%
- Retention Rate
- 80%
- SAT Average
- 1168
- ACT Midpoint
- 25
- SAT Range
- 1060–1235
- ACT Range
- 22–28
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,724
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 11:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.62
- First-Gen Students
- 24%
- Applicants
- 3,836
- Admitted
- 3,435
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 Niagara University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Niagara University is $39,345, 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 $17,248. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,564 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,475 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $39,345
- Out-of-State
- $39,345
- Avg Net Price
- $17,248
- Median Debt
- $25,475
- Pell Grant Rate
- 27%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 55%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $9,564
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $11,510
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $17,322
- Family Income $110K+
- $22,990
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 Niagara 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 Niagara University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Niagara University earn a median of $56,196, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $48,289
- 8 Years
- $49,762
- 10 Years
- $56,196
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.45x
- Earning > $25K
- 73%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (435)
- 71%
- 100% (435)
- 71%
- 100% (435)
- 71%
- 100% (435)
- 71%
How Niagara 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 Niagara University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Niagara University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $17,248/year ($68,992 total). Graduates earn $56,196 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,347,465 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,278,473 (19.5× your investment). The median debt is $25,475, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 72% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $68,992
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,347,465
- Net Return
- $1,278,473
- ROI Multiple
- 19.5×
- Cost Per Year
- $17,248
- Median Debt
- $25,475
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 72%
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 Niagara University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Niagara 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 1.50%, well above the typical college. About 5.8% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 25.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $92,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.50%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 25.7%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 5.8%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $125,403
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $8,863,164
- Investment Income
- $-3,893,799
Top Programs
The fields Niagara 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.
- Education 35% $55,225 early-career
- Business & Marketing 17% $48,724 early-career
- Health Professions 11% $83,000 early-career
- Social Sciences 9% $44,975 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 4%
- Psychology 4% $34,357 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 3% $44,210 early-career
- Communications 2% $34,410 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 Niagara 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 Niagara University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Niagara University, located in Niagara University, New York, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 87%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,168. The graduation rate is roughly 72%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Niagara University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Niagara University is $39,345, 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 $17,248. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,564 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,475 in federal student loans.
Is Niagara University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Niagara University earn a median of $56,196, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Niagara University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Niagara 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 1.50%, well above the typical college. About 5.8% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 25.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $92,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Niagara 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 Niagara University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.57, 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.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Niagara University.
- Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan CampusTeaneck, NJ · Close peer58% grad $57,273 earn 91% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Frostburg State UniversityFrostburg, MD · Close peer51% grad $55,493 earn 89% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Le Moyne CollegeSyracuse, NY · Close peer72% grad $62,731 earn 83% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Keene State CollegeKeene, NH · Close peer59% grad $54,368 earn 90% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- University of St ThomasHouston, TX · Close peer69% grad $59,224 earn 90% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Fitchburg State UniversityFitchburg, MA · Close peer54% grad $53,874 earn 87% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Niagara 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 Niagara University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.57, 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