Skip to content
CollegeRanker
Private nonprofit South Orange, NJ · Suburban · Mid-Atlantic · 100% data
A Earnings A Social Mobility B+ Diversity
Graduation Rate
70% B-
Solid completion rate — most students graduate
Earnings (10yr)
$70,196 A
Top 7% nationally — exceptional earning power
Net Price
$31,446 F
84% more than the typical college
Acceptance Rate
73% C+
Accessible to most qualified applicants
Earnings +72% vs avg
Graduation +23% vs avg
Net Price 84% vs avg
Mobility Top 8%

Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 13.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $13.4 over 20 years. Ranked #4 in Best Business Colleges in New Jersey.

13.4× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $13.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,558,455.

What The Data Says

  1. A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.

  2. Graduates earn 72% more than the national college median.

  3. Social mobility rate of 3.18% — an engine of upward economic mobility.

  4. Every $1 invested returns $13.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why Seton Hall University Matters

Seton Hall University is a private research university in South Orange, NJ and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong research base, 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 Research University
Carnegie Class
R2 · High Research
Enrollment
6,036
Setting
Suburban
Designations
HSI · 30
Primary Strengths
Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Biology & Biomedical, Social Sciences

Why students choose Seton Hall University

Research-intensive environment
Active labs and research-active faculty
Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Exceptional earning outcomes
Graduate earnings in the top 7% of colleges
Engine of upward mobility
A strong record of moving students up the income ladder

CollegeRanker Report Card

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

C+
Top 35% overall
A
Earnings
$70,196 median
C-
Value
2.2× net price
F
Affordability
$31,446/yr net
B-
Graduation
70% graduate
A
Social Mobility
3.2% climb Q1→Q5
C+
Selectivity
73% admit rate
B+
Diversity
0.72 index

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

How we grade →

Overview

Seton Hall University is a solid choice for students looking for a well-rounded education in fields like Business and Marketing, Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Social Sciences, Health Professions, and Communications. With an enrollment of about 6,036 and an acceptance rate of 73%, it tends to attract a diverse range of students who are eager to engage in their studies and make connections. The supportive campus environment encourages collaboration and helps students thrive academically.

When we look at what happens after graduation, the numbers are promising. Graduates earn an average of $70,196 within ten years, which gives a good sense of the potential return on investment. This suggests that many students are able to find fulfilling careers that can help them climb the economic ladder. The affordability of attending Seton Hall is also a notable factor, especially considering the net price of $31,446 after aid, which can be manageable for many families.

As for the financial aspects, the median debt for graduates stands at $22,750, which is relatively reasonable in today’s landscape. Those who tend to thrive here are often motivated individuals from various backgrounds, including a significant portion of Pell Grant recipients, making up 32% of the student body. This mix creates a dynamic learning environment where diverse perspectives enhance the educational experience.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Seton Hall 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 Seton Hall University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Seton Hall University, located in South Orange, New Jersey, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 73%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,322. The graduation rate is roughly 70%.

Acceptance Rate
73%
Retention Rate
81%
SAT Average
1322
ACT Midpoint
29
SAT Range
1220–1390
ACT Range
27–32
Full-Time Faculty
93%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$11,807
Student–Faculty Ratio
14:1
Diversity Index
0.72
First-Gen Students
28%
Applicants
25,731
Admitted
19,315

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 Seton Hall University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Seton Hall University is $53,170, 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 $31,446. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $19,623 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $22,750 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$53,170
Out-of-State
$53,170
Avg Net Price
$31,446
Median Debt
$22,750
Pell Grant Rate
32%
Federal Loan Rate
50%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$19,623
Family Income $30K–$48K
$21,869
Family Income $48K–$75K
$27,194
Family Income $110K+
$41,783

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 Seton Hall University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is Seton Hall University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Seton Hall University earn a median of $70,196, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.

6 Years After Entry
$60,291
8 Years
$67,462
10 Years
$70,196
Debt-to-Earnings
0.32x
Earning > $25K
78%

Earnings Trajectory

$60,291 6yr $67,462 8yr $70,196 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (819)
65%
100% (819)
65%
100% (819)
65%
100% (819)
65%

How Seton Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation70%Earnings 10yr$70KNet Price$31KRetention81%Median Debt$23KPell Grant Rate32%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$20K$0-30K$22K$30-48K$27K$48-75K$42K$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%7.5%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%42.2%MOBILITY3.18%

College ROI Calculator

Is Seton Hall University Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Seton Hall University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $31,446/year ($125,784 total). Graduates earn $70,196 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,684,239 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,558,455 (13.4× your investment). The median debt is $22,750, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 70% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$125,784
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,684,239
Net Return
$1,558,455
ROI Multiple
13.4×
Cost Per Year
$31,446
Median Debt
$22,750
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
70%

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 Seton Hall University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Seton Hall 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 3.18%, among the highest in the country. About 7.5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 42.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $100,900, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
3.18%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
42.2%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
7.5%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$137,088
today's $ (2015 cohort data)

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Seton Hall 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 Seton Hall University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.80, 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 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.80
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
0.01
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
5.8%
Support Ratio
1.00
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Investment Income
$-34,195,000

Top Programs

The fields Seton Hall 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.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Seton Hall University, located in South Orange, New Jersey, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 73%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,322. The graduation rate is roughly 70%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Seton Hall University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Seton Hall University is $53,170, 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 $31,446. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $19,623 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $22,750 in federal student loans.

Is Seton Hall University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Seton Hall University earn a median of $70,196, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.

Does Seton Hall University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Seton Hall 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 3.18%, among the highest in the country. About 7.5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 42.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $100,900, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is Seton Hall 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 Seton Hall University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.80, 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 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Similar Schools

Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Seton Hall University.

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

Free · 21 pages · 5,745 institutions · 100% federal data, no surveys