University of Scranton
#8 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Pennsylvania- Graduation Rate
- 80% A-
- Most students who enroll finish their degree here
- Earnings (10yr)
- $74,652 A
- Top 6% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $32,568 F
- 90% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 81% C-
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 14.1× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $14.1 over 20 years. Ranked #8 in Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Pennsylvania.
Every $1 spent returns $14.1 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,708,781.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduates earn 83% more than the national college median.
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A 80% graduation rate — 40% above the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $14.1 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why University of Scranton Matters
University of Scranton is a private university in Scranton, PA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 6% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 3,554
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- 30
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Biology & Biomedical, Education
Why students choose University of Scranton
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 81% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1160–1318. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $32,568 a year after grants and scholarships — 90% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $74,652 ten years after enrolling — 83% above the typical college, against $27,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.6% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 45% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.79 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of just over 3,500 students, the University of Scranton is a great fit for those looking for a supportive community. It attracts students who are interested in programs like Business and Marketing, Health Professions, and Criminal Justice. The school’s 81% acceptance rate makes it accessible, while the 80% graduation rate indicates that most students who start here find a way to finish strong.
Looking ahead to life after graduation, the earning potential is promising. Graduates can expect to make around $74,652 a decade after completing their degree. This figure highlights the value of a degree from Scranton, especially considering the affordability of the education. The cost of attending, while not negligible, positions itself reasonably against the financial returns many students see post-graduation.
When it comes to the numbers that matter most, the net price of attending Scranton is approximately $32,568 after aid, with a median debt load of $27,000. This balance suggests that students can thrive here, especially those who are motivated and take advantage of the resources available. The university's environment fosters a sense of belonging, making it a good choice for those seeking both academic and personal growth.
Rankings
- #8 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Pennsylvania
- #10 Best Online Colleges in Pennsylvania
- #10 Best Nursing Colleges in Pennsylvania
- #10 Best Communications Colleges in Pennsylvania
- #10 Best MBA Programs for Operations Management
- #10 Best MBA Programs for Healthcare Management
- #12 Best MBA Programs in Pennsylvania
- #13 Best MBA Programs for International Business
Can I Get In?
How selective University of Scranton 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 University of Scranton? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Scranton, Pennsylvania, University of Scranton admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 81%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,237. The graduation rate is roughly 80%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 81%
- Retention Rate
- 85%
- SAT Average
- 1237
- ACT Midpoint
- 26
- SAT Range
- 1160–1318
- ACT Range
- 25–30
- Full-Time Faculty
- 69%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $11,510
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 12:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.43
- First-Gen Students
- 20%
- Applicants
- 9,530
- Admitted
- 8,039
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2025-26
The acceptance rate tells you how hard University of Scranton is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 12% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.
- Yield Rate
- 12%
- of admits enroll
- Submitted SAT
- 29%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 4%
- of enrolled freshmen
There is an early lane. University offers Early Action, so you can apply ahead of the regular deadline and hear back sooner without committing to enroll.
Test-optional, in practice. Only about 33% of enrolled freshmen submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive here, not a long shot.
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 University of Scranton? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Scranton is $53,983, 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 $32,568. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $23,896 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $53,983
- Out-of-State
- $53,983
- Avg Net Price
- $32,568
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 24%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 64%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $23,896
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $23,407
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $23,912
- Family Income $110K+
- $39,348
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 University of Scranton — 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 University of Scranton Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Scranton earn a median of $74,652, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $62,921
- 8 Years
- $71,098
- 10 Years
- $74,652
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.36x
- Earning > $25K
- 80%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (782)
- 74%
- 100% (782)
- 74%
- 100% (782)
- 74%
- 100% (782)
- 74%
How University 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 University of Scranton Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, University of Scranton delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $32,568/year ($130,272 total). Graduates earn $74,652 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,839,053 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,708,781 (14.1× your investment). The median debt is $27,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 80% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $130,272
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,839,053
- Net Return
- $1,708,781
- ROI Multiple
- 14.1×
- Cost Per Year
- $32,568
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 80%
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 University of Scranton Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
University of Scranton 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 1.55%, well above the typical college. Access is narrower: only about 3.2% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 48.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $120,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.55%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 48.5%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 3.2%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $163,310
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-12,083,077
Top Programs
The fields University of Scranton 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 20% $76,041 early-career
- Health Professions 19% $95,981 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 15% $32,598 early-career
- Education 5% $45,495 early-career
- Criminal Justice 5% $39,374 early-career
- Communications 5% $50,714 early-career
- Humanities 4% $46,778 early-career
- Social Sciences 4% $56,154 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 University of Scranton'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
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of Scranton? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Scranton, Pennsylvania, University of Scranton admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 81%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,237. The graduation rate is roughly 80%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Scranton? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Scranton is $53,983, 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 $32,568. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $23,896 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
Is University of Scranton Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Scranton earn a median of $74,652, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
Does University of Scranton Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
University of Scranton 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 1.55%, well above the typical college. Access is narrower: only about 3.2% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 48.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $120,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is University of Scranton? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Scranton. Its economic connectedness score is 1.79, 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 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Does University of Scranton offer Early Decision?
No. University of Scranton does not report a binding Early Decision plan, though it does offer a non-binding Early Action option (2025-26 Common Data Set).
Is University of Scranton really test-optional?
In practice, yes. Only about 33% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at University of Scranton (2025-26 Common Data Set).
What percentage of admitted students enroll at University of Scranton?
About 12% of admitted students choose to enroll at University of Scranton — its yield rate (2025-26 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of Scranton.
- Creighton UniversityOmaha, NE · Close peer82% grad $73,911 earn 80% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Thomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphia, PA · Close peer68% grad $77,449 earn 81% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- The Catholic University of AmericaWashington, DC · Close peer80% grad $73,250 earn 83% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Siena UniversityLoudonville, NY · Close peer75% grad $76,079 earn 69% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Seattle UniversitySeattle, WA · Close peer74% grad $75,272 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Butler UniversityIndianapolis, IN · Close peer80% grad $77,235 earn 85% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is University of Scranton? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Scranton. Its economic connectedness score is 1.79, 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 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note