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Simmons University

Private nonprofit Boston, MA · Urban · New England · 100% data reported · Agent Insights · Claim Your School's Profile ➜
72%
Graduation Rate
$63,494
Earnings (10yr)
$25,265
Net Price
70%
Acceptance Rate
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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, Social Sciences, Communications

Why students choose Simmons University

Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Engine of upward mobility
A strong record of moving students up the income ladder
Strength in Health Professions
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

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

B-
Top 34% overall
A-
Earnings
$63,494 median
C
Value
2.5× net price
D
Affordability
$25,265/yr net
B
Graduation
72% graduate
B
Social Mobility
2.3% climb Q1→Q5
C+
Selectivity
70% admit rate
A-
Diversity
0.73 index

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

How we grade →

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

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.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

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

Simmons University, located in Boston, Massachusetts, admits a majority of applicants, with an acceptance rate of roughly 70%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,316. The school reports a graduation rate of 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
2

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

When weighing the true cost of attending Simmons University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $46,874 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 $25,265 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $18,027 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $24,840.

$46,874
In-State Tuition
$46,874
Out-of-State
$25,265
Avg Net Price
$24,840
Median Debt
33%
Pell Grant Rate
63%
Federal Loan Rate

What Families Actually Pay

$18,027
Family Income $0–$30K
$15,810
Family Income $30K–$48K
$22,139
Family Income $48K–$75K
$32,777
Family Income $110K+
3

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

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 national averages for graduates.

$61,420
6 Years After Entry
$59,301
8 Years
$63,494
10 Years
0.39x
Debt-to-Earnings
83%
Earning > $25K

Earnings Trajectory

$61,420 6yr $59,301 8yr $63,494 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

76%
100% (229)
76%
100% (229)
76%
100% (229)
76%
100% (229)

Where Grads Go

Top employers of Simmons University’s MBA graduates, by hires reported in the school’s employment report.

How Simmons Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation72%Earnings 10yr$63KNet Price$25KRetention85%Median Debt$25KPell Grant Rate33%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$18K$0-30K$16K$30-48K$22K$48-75K$33K$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%5.7%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%40.8%MOBILITY2.32%

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.

$101,060
Total Cost (4yr)
$1,315,077
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,214,017
Net Return
13.0×
ROI Multiple
$25,265
Cost Per Year
$24,840
Median Debt
Less than 1 yr
Debt Payback
72%
Graduation Rate
4

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 useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.

2.32%
Mobility Rate
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
40.8%
Success Rate
If bottom 20% get in
5.7%
From Bottom 20%
Share of students
$89,800
Parent Median Income

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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.85 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 11% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

1.85
Economic Connectedness
Cross-class friendships
-0.00
Friending Bias
Lower = more inclusive
11.4%
Volunteering Rate
1.00
Support Ratio
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

Endowment
Total Expenses
Federal Grants
$-26,507,142
Investment Income

Top Programs

The fields Simmons 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Simmons University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +

Simmons University, located in Boston, Massachusetts, admits a majority of applicants, with an acceptance rate of roughly 70%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,316. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 72%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Simmons University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +

When weighing the true cost of attending Simmons University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $46,874 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 $25,265 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $18,027 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $24,840.

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 national averages for 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 useful read on 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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.85 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 11% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

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