Pace University
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.
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What The Data Says
A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
Graduates earn 73% more than the national college median.
Social mobility rate of 8.43% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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
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 keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 76% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,266. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 61%.
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
When weighing the true cost of attending Pace University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $53,290 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 $30,892 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $26,473 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $23,250.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Pace University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Pace University earn a median of $70,378 — an exceptional return on investment that outpaces national averages for bachelor's-degree holders.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
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.
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 genuine 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 useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Pace 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.
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.
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 keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 76% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,266. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 61%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Pace University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending Pace University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $53,290 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 $30,892 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $26,473 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $23,250.
Is Pace University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +
Ten years out, alumni of Pace University earn a median of $70,378 — an exceptional return on investment that outpaces national averages 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 genuine 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 useful read on 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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.83 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely 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.
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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.83 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note