Pace University
- Graduation Rate
- 61% C+
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $70,378 A
- Top 7% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $30,892 F
- 80% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 76% C
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 16.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $16.8 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $16.8 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,955,896.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduates earn 73% more than the national college median.
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Social mobility rate of 8.43% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $16.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Pace University Matters
Pace University is a private doctoral / professional university in New York, NY and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 7% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Doctoral / Professional University
- Carnegie Class
- Doctoral/Professional
- Enrollment
- 7,665
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Visual & Performing Arts, Health Professions, Communications
Why students choose Pace 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 76% 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 $30,892 a year after grants and scholarships — 80% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $70,378 ten years after enrolling — 73% above the typical college, against $23,250 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 8.4% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 1% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.83 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With around 7,665 students, Pace University is a solid choice for those looking to dive into dynamic fields like Business and Marketing, Visual and Performing Arts, Health Professions, Communications, and Psychology. The 76% acceptance rate indicates that while it’s a competitive environment, it’s also welcoming to a diverse range of students. What stands out here is the urban experience of studying in New York City, which can open doors to countless internships and networking opportunities.
Looking at life after graduation, the median earnings for Pace alumni ten years out is $70,378. That’s a figure that speaks volumes about the potential return on investment for students. While we don’t have specific mobility data, the opportunities that come from being in a major city like New York can be a huge advantage. The cost of attendance is a consideration, but when you weigh that against the potential for solid earnings, it becomes clear why students might find Pace a worthwhile option.
Financially, the net price after aid is about $30,892, which can feel manageable compared to the benefits on the other side. With a median debt of $23,250, many graduates leave with a reasonable load, especially when factoring in their earning potential. Students who thrive here tend to be those who are proactive and engaged, ready to make the most of the rich resources and opportunities available in the vibrant environment of New York City.
Rankings
- #13 Best Communications Colleges in New York
- #17 Best Nursing Colleges in New York
- #19 Best MBA Programs in New York
- #24 Best Business Colleges in New York
- #24 Best Education Colleges in New York
- #27 Best Online Colleges in New York
- #27 Best Computer Science Colleges in New York
- #27 Best Data Science Colleges in New York
Can I Get In?
How selective Pace 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 Pace University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in New York, New York, Pace University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 76%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,266. The graduation rate is roughly 61%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 76%
- Retention Rate
- 75%
- SAT Average
- 1266
- ACT Midpoint
- 26
- SAT Range
- 1180–1340
- ACT Range
- 24–29
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $12,908
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 14:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.72
- First-Gen Students
- 29%
- Applicants
- 26,613
- Admitted
- 22,070
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 Pace University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Pace University is $53,290, 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 $30,892. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $26,473 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,250 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $53,290
- Out-of-State
- $53,290
- Avg Net Price
- $30,892
- Median Debt
- $23,250
- Pell Grant Rate
- 27%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 45%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $26,473
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $26,362
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $28,467
- Family Income $110K+
- $36,430
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 Pace 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 Pace University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Pace University earn a median of $70,378, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $52,767
- 8 Years
- $61,062
- 10 Years
- $70,378
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.33x
- Earning > $25K
- 74%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (891)
- 46%
- 100% (891)
- 46%
- 100% (891)
- 46%
- 100% (891)
- 46%
How Pace 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 Pace University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Pace University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $30,892/year ($123,568 total). Graduates earn $70,378 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $2,079,464 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,955,896 (16.8× your investment). The median debt is $23,250, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 61% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $123,568
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $2,079,464
- Net Return
- $1,955,896
- ROI Multiple
- 16.8×
- Cost Per Year
- $30,892
- Median Debt
- $23,250
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 61%
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 Pace University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Pace 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 8.43%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 15.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 55.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $68,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 8.43%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 55.6%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 15.2%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $93,203
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-25,689,417
Top Programs
The fields Pace 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 21% $85,936 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 18% $44,210 early-career
- Health Professions 14% $107,801 early-career
- Communications 12% $48,785 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 7% $101,899 early-career
- Psychology 7% $42,081 early-career
- Social Sciences 5% $69,715 early-career
- Education 3% $139,698 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 Pace 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 Pace University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in New York, New York, Pace University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 76%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,266. The graduation rate is roughly 61%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Pace University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Pace University is $53,290, 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 $30,892. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $26,473 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $23,250 in federal student loans.
Is Pace University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Pace University earn a median of $70,378, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
Does Pace University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Pace 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 8.43%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 15.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 55.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $68,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Pace 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 Pace University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.83, 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.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Pace University.
- St. John's University-New YorkQueens, NY · Close peer67% grad $69,571 earn 83% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Rutgers University-NewarkNewark, NJ · Close peer66% grad $74,479 earn 71% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of St ThomasSaint Paul, MN · Close peer76% grad $73,739 earn 85% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Seton Hall UniversitySouth Orange, NJ · Close peer70% grad $70,196 earn 73% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Hofstra UniversityHempstead, NY · Close peer68% grad $69,039 earn 68% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Nova Southeastern UniversityFort Lauderdale, FL · Close peer64% grad $59,209 earn 73% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Pace 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 Pace University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.83, 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