Simmons University
#1 Best Nursing Colleges in Massachusetts- Graduation Rate
- 72% B
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $63,494 A-
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $25,265 D
- 47% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 70% C+
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 13.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $13.0 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Nursing Colleges in Massachusetts.
Every $1 spent returns $13.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,214,017.
What The Data Says
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A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduates earn 56% more than the national college median.
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A top feeder school for 5 major employers.
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Social mobility rate of 2.32% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $13.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Employer Pipelines
- 5
- Top feeder programs
Why Simmons University Matters
Simmons University is a private doctoral / professional university in Boston, MA 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: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
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
- 1,670
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Psychology, Computer Science & IT, Biology & Biomedical
Why students choose Simmons 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 70% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1220–1390. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $25,265 a year after grants and scholarships — 47% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $63,494 ten years after enrolling — 56% above the typical college, against $24,840 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.3% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 20% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.85 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
At Simmons University, you'll find a welcoming environment for students interested in health professions, psychology, social sciences, communications, and biology. With an acceptance rate of 70%, this school is a great fit for those who are looking for a supportive community where they can thrive academically and personally. The student body is relatively small, with around 1,670 students, allowing for closer interactions with faculty and peers.
Graduates from Simmons can expect solid outcomes, with a median earning of $63,494 ten years after graduation. This suggests that many students see a return on their investment in education, which is reassuring for those considering their future. The combination of a moderate cost of living in Boston and a graduation rate of 72% indicates that students who commit to their studies here tend to find their footing in the job market.
When it comes to the financial side, students can anticipate a net price of $25,265 after aid, which is manageable compared to the median debt of $24,840. This financial landscape is particularly advantageous for those who secure Pell Grants, which 33% of students do. Overall, Simmons attracts students who are passionate about their fields and value a vibrant, engaged community that prepares them for meaningful careers.
Rankings
- #1 Best Nursing Colleges in Massachusetts
- #9 Best Communications Colleges in Massachusetts
- #18 Best Online Colleges in Massachusetts
- #19 Best Psychology Colleges in Massachusetts
- #19 Best MBA Programs in Massachusetts
- #20 Best Computer Science Colleges in Massachusetts
- #20 Best Data Science Colleges in Massachusetts
- #21 Best Biology Colleges in Massachusetts
Can I Get In?
How selective Simmons 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 Simmons University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Simmons University, located in Boston, Massachusetts, offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 70% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,316. The graduation rate is roughly 72%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 70%
- Retention Rate
- 85%
- SAT Average
- 1316
- ACT Midpoint
- 29
- SAT Range
- 1220–1390
- ACT Range
- 26–34
- Full-Time Faculty
- 30%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,463
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 7:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.73
- First-Gen Students
- 20%
- Applicants
- 4,001
- Admitted
- 3,059
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 Simmons University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Simmons University is $46,874, 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 $25,265. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $18,027 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $24,840 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $46,874
- Out-of-State
- $46,874
- Avg Net Price
- $25,265
- Median Debt
- $24,840
- Pell Grant Rate
- 33%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 63%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $18,027
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $15,810
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $22,139
- Family Income $110K+
- $32,777
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 Simmons 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 Simmons University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Simmons University earn a median of $63,494, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $61,420
- 8 Years
- $59,301
- 10 Years
- $63,494
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.39x
- Earning > $25K
- 83%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (229)
- 76%
- 100% (229)
- 76%
- 100% (229)
- 76%
- 100% (229)
- 76%
Where Grads Go
Simmons University is a top feeder for:
- #1 Brigham and Women's Hospital
- #1 VA Boston Healthcare System
- #1 Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
- #2 Massachusetts General Hospital
- #3 Boston Children's Hospital
Rank among programs feeding each employer.
Top employers of Simmons University’s MBA graduates, by hires reported in the school’s employment report.
- Massachusetts General Hospital ✓ VerifiedHealthcare & hospitals
- Brigham and Women's Hospital ✓ VerifiedHealthcare & hospitals
- Boston Children's Hospital ✓ VerifiedOther
- VA Boston Healthcare System ✓ VerifiedHealthcare & hospitals
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute ✓ VerifiedHealthcare & hospitals
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center ✓ VerifiedHealthcare & hospitals
How Simmons 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 Simmons University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Simmons University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $25,265/year ($101,060 total). Graduates earn $63,494 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,315,077 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,214,017 (13.0× your investment). The median debt is $24,840, 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)
- $101,060
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,315,077
- Net Return
- $1,214,017
- ROI Multiple
- 13.0×
- Cost Per Year
- $25,265
- Median Debt
- $24,840
- 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 Simmons University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Simmons 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 2.32%, among the highest in the country. About 5.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 40.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $89,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 2.32%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 40.8%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 5.7%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $122,007
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-26,507,142
Top Programs
The fields Simmons 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.
- Health Professions 33% $80,546 early-career
- Psychology 7% $48,724 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 7%
- Biology & Biomedical 7%
- Social Sciences 6% $58,605 early-career
- Business & Marketing 5% $85,126 early-career
- Communications 3% $44,210 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 2%
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 Simmons 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 Simmons University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Simmons University, located in Boston, Massachusetts, offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 70% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,316. The graduation rate is roughly 72%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Simmons University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Simmons University is $46,874, 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 $25,265. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $18,027 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $24,840 in federal student loans.
Is Simmons University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Simmons University earn a median of $63,494, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Simmons University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Simmons 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 2.32%, among the highest in the country. About 5.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 40.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $89,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Simmons 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 Simmons University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.85, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 11% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Simmons University.
- Drew UniversityMadison, NJ · Close peer71% grad $63,646 earn 68% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Rockhurst UniversityKansas City, MO · Close peer75% grad $67,102 earn 70% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Concordia University-IrvineIrvine, CA · Close peer60% grad $65,083 earn 66% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Emmanuel CollegeBoston, MA · Close peer67% grad $68,245 earn 76% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Wheaton College (Massachusetts)Norton, MA · Close peer74% grad $67,725 earn 68% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Northwood UniversityMidland, MI · Close peer62% grad $63,075 earn 65% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Simmons 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 Simmons University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.85, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 11% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note