Suffolk University
#5 Best Communications Colleges in Massachusetts- Graduation Rate
- 60% C+
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $67,506 A
- Top 9% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $29,618 F
- 73% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 82% C-
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 14.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $14.4 over 20 years. Ranked #5 in Best Communications Colleges in Massachusetts.
Every $1 spent returns $14.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,589,495.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduates earn 66% more than the national college median.
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Social mobility rate of 2.68% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $14.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Suffolk University Matters
Suffolk 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: graduates whose earnings land in the top 9% 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
- 4,268
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Social Sciences, Communications, Psychology
Why students choose Suffolk 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
Accessible — admits about 82% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1090–1300. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $29,618 a year after grants and scholarships — 73% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $67,506 ten years after enrolling — 66% above the typical college, against $26,889 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.7% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 14% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.86 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Suffolk University is a solid choice for students looking to dive into fields like Business, Marketing, and Communications. With an acceptance rate of 82%, it welcomes a diverse range of applicants, making it accessible for many who are eager to learn. Students here often appreciate the vibrant environment of Boston, which complements their studies in Psychology and Legal Studies. Whether you're drawn to the fast-paced world of business or the intricacies of social sciences, there's a sense of community that helps foster growth.
After graduation, the outcomes look promising. Graduates earn an average of $67,506 within ten years, giving a good indication of the value of a Suffolk degree. While the graduation rate stands at 60%, it's important to consider that many students find their footing and move into rewarding careers. Affordability is also key; with a net price of $29,618, students can weigh this against potential earnings to assess the return on their investment.
When it comes to the financial aspect, the median debt for graduates is $26,889, which is manageable for many. This makes Suffolk a reasonable option for students who want to balance their education with financial realities. The 30% of students receiving Pell Grants indicates that support is available for those who need it. Overall, students who thrive here tend to be those who are proactive and engaged, ready to take advantage of the resources and connections that Suffolk and Boston have to offer.
Rankings
- #5 Best Communications Colleges in Massachusetts
- #7 Best Business Colleges in Massachusetts
- #15 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Massachusetts
- #15 Best MBA Programs in Massachusetts
- #23 Best Online Colleges in Massachusetts
- #24 Best Psychology Colleges in Massachusetts
- #27 Best Computer Science Colleges in Massachusetts
- #27 Best Data Science Colleges in Massachusetts
Can I Get In?
How selective Suffolk 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 Suffolk University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Boston, Massachusetts, Suffolk University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 82%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,216. The graduation rate is roughly 60%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 82%
- Retention Rate
- 75%
- SAT Average
- 1216
- ACT Midpoint
- 26
- SAT Range
- 1090–1300
- ACT Range
- 24–28
- Full-Time Faculty
- 56%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $12,891
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 13:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.70
- First-Gen Students
- 30%
- Applicants
- 9,699
- Admitted
- 8,418
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 Suffolk University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Suffolk University is $47,550, 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 $29,618. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $24,745 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,889 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $47,550
- Out-of-State
- $47,550
- Avg Net Price
- $29,618
- Median Debt
- $26,889
- Pell Grant Rate
- 30%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 55%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $24,745
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $25,711
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $25,702
- Family Income $110K+
- $36,264
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 Suffolk 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 Suffolk University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Suffolk University earn a median of $67,506, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $55,856
- 8 Years
- $61,452
- 10 Years
- $67,506
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.4x
- Earning > $25K
- 74%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (489)
- 45%
- 100% (489)
- 45%
- 100% (489)
- 45%
- 100% (489)
- 45%
How Suffolk 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 Suffolk University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Suffolk University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $29,618/year ($118,472 total). Graduates earn $67,506 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,707,967 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,589,495 (14.4× your investment). The median debt is $26,889, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 60% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $118,472
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,707,967
- Net Return
- $1,589,495
- ROI Multiple
- 14.4×
- Cost Per Year
- $29,618
- Median Debt
- $26,889
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 60%
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 Suffolk University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Suffolk 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 2.68%, among the highest in the country. About 7.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 35% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $88,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 2.68%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 35.0%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 7.7%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $119,697
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-33,942,263
Top Programs
The fields Suffolk 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 32% $62,904 early-career
- Social Sciences 12% $57,547 early-career
- Communications 12% $44,094 early-career
- Psychology 8% $44,923 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 7% $61,913 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 6% $52,935 early-career
- Criminal Justice 5% $71,450 early-career
- Legal Studies 5% $38,487 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 Suffolk 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 Suffolk University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Boston, Massachusetts, Suffolk University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 82%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,216. The graduation rate is roughly 60%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Suffolk University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Suffolk University is $47,550, 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 $29,618. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $24,745 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,889 in federal student loans.
Is Suffolk University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Suffolk University earn a median of $67,506, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Suffolk University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Suffolk 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 2.68%, among the highest in the country. About 7.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 35% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $88,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Suffolk 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 Suffolk University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.86, 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 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Suffolk University.
- Monmouth UniversityWest Long Branch, NJ · Close peer71% grad $67,991 earn 89% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- New York Institute of TechnologyOld Westbury, NY · Close peer58% grad $70,080 earn 81% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Thomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphia, PA · Close peer68% grad $77,449 earn 81% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Iona UniversityNew Rochelle, NY · Close peer57% grad $73,595 earn 87% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Xavier UniversityCincinnati, OH · Close peer70% grad $64,873 earn 86% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of HartfordWest Hartford, CT · Close peer56% grad $60,823 earn 96% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Suffolk 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 Suffolk University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.86, 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 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note