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Western New England University

#6 Best Business Colleges in Massachusetts
Private nonprofit Springfield, MA · Urban · New England · 100% data
A Earnings B Social Mobility C+ Graduation
Graduation Rate
64% C+
Solid completion rate — most students graduate
Earnings (10yr)
$73,157 A
Top 6% nationally — exceptional earning power
Net Price
$27,290 D
59% more than the typical college
Acceptance Rate
83% C-
Accessible to most qualified applicants
Earnings +79% vs avg
Graduation +12% vs avg
Net Price 59% vs avg
Mobility Top 27%

Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 21.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $21.9 over 20 years. Ranked #6 in Best Business Colleges in Massachusetts.

21.9× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $21.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $2,281,180.

What The Data Says

  1. A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

  2. Graduates earn 79% more than the national college median.

  3. Inventor rate in the top 23% nationally — patents, startups, and new technology flow from its graduates.

  4. Social mobility rate of 2.02% — an engine of upward economic mobility.

  5. Every $1 invested returns $21.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Economic Footprint

Inventor Rate
1.0%
Top 23%
Patents
39
Linked to graduates
Patent Citations
66
Downstream influence

Why Western New England University Matters

Western New England University is a private doctoral / professional university in Springfield, MA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an unusually high rate of inventors and patents and 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 Doctoral / Professional University
Carnegie Class
Doctoral/Professional
Enrollment
2,603
Setting
Urban
Primary Strengths
Business & Marketing, Engineering, Psychology, Criminal Justice

Why students choose Western New England University

Entrepreneurial, inventive students
Above-average inventor and patent activity
Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Exceptional earning outcomes
Graduate earnings in the top 6% of colleges

CollegeRanker Report Card

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

C+
Top 42% overall
A
Earnings
$73,157 median
C
Value
2.7× net price
D
Affordability
$27,290/yr net
C+
Graduation
64% graduate
B
Social Mobility
2.0% climb Q1→Q5
C-
Selectivity
83% admit rate
C-
Diversity
0.55 index

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

How we grade →

Overview

Western New England University is a great fit for students who thrive in an accessible environment and are looking for a diverse range of programs. With an acceptance rate of 83%, it welcomes a broad spectrum of applicants and encourages exploration in fields like Business & Marketing, Engineering, Health Professions, Psychology, and Criminal Justice. What stands out here is the supportive community that fosters both academic and personal growth.

After graduation, students can expect solid earning potential, with a median income of $73,157 after ten years. This indicates that graduates are able to find their footing in the job market and build successful careers. The affordability factor adds to the appeal, as many students manage to graduate without overwhelming debt, making their transition into the workforce smoother.

When we look at the financial aspects, the net price after aid comes to $27,290, which is manageable for many families. The median debt of $25,500 suggests that students are not graduating with crippling financial burdens. This environment tends to suit those who are motivated and willing to engage, making it a great place for individuals looking to pursue their passions while maintaining a practical approach to their education and future career.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Western New England 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 Western New England University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Springfield, Massachusetts, Western New England University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 83%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,192. The graduation rate is roughly 64%.

Acceptance Rate
83%
Retention Rate
74%
SAT Average
1192
ACT Midpoint
28
SAT Range
1090–1300
ACT Range
21–28
Full-Time Faculty
61%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$10,676
Student–Faculty Ratio
11:1
Diversity Index
0.55
First-Gen Students
25%
Applicants
6,128
Admitted
5,393

Inside the Admissions Office

School-reported Common Data Set · 2024-25

The acceptance rate tells you how hard Western New England University 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. 13% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.

Yield Rate
13%
of admits enroll
Submitted SAT
15%
of enrolled freshmen
Submitted ACT
100%
of enrolled freshmen
Source: Western New England University's Common Data Set, 2024-25 View the source document on collegedata.fyi →

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 Western New England University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Western New England University is $47,820, 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 $27,290. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $20,726 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,500 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$47,820
Out-of-State
$47,820
Avg Net Price
$27,290
Median Debt
$25,500
Pell Grant Rate
24%
Federal Loan Rate
78%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$20,726
Family Income $30K–$48K
$22,471
Family Income $48K–$75K
$25,205
Family Income $110K+
$29,794

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 Western New England 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 Western New England University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Western New England University earn a median of $73,157, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.

6 Years After Entry
$51,771
8 Years
$68,753
10 Years
$73,157
Debt-to-Earnings
0.35x
Earning > $25K
80%

Earnings Trajectory

$51,771 6yr $68,753 8yr $73,157 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (439)
58%
100% (439)
58%
100% (439)
58%
100% (439)
58%

How Western Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation64%Earnings 10yr$73KNet Price$27KRetention74%Median Debt$26KPell Grant Rate24%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$21K$0-30K$22K$30-48K$25K$48-75K$30K$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%3.8%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%52.8%MOBILITY2.02%

College ROI Calculator

Is Western New England University Worth It?

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

Yes — for most students, Western New England University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $27,290/year ($109,160 total). Graduates earn $73,157 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $2,390,340 in total earnings — a net gain of $2,281,180 (21.9× your investment). The median debt is $25,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 64% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$109,160
Projected 20yr Earnings
$2,390,340
Net Return
$2,281,180
ROI Multiple
21.9×
Cost Per Year
$27,290
Median Debt
$25,500
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
64%

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 Western New England University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Western New England 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 2.02%, among the highest in the country. Access is narrower: only about 3.8% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 52.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $99,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
2.02%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
52.8%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
3.8%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$134,914
today's $ (2015 cohort data)

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Western New England 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 Western New England University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.73, 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 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.73
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
0.01
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
4.3%
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).

Innovation & Knowledge Creation

Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education

Western New England University produces inventors at an above-average rate (top 23% nationally), with 39 patents tied to its graduates.

Inventor Rate
1.04%
Top 23% nationally
Patents Produced
39
Linked to graduates
Patent Citations
66
Downstream influence

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Federal Grants
$8,749,493
Investment Income
$-11,662,522

Top Programs

The fields Western New England 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 Western New England University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Springfield, Massachusetts, Western New England University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 83%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,192. The graduation rate is roughly 64%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Western New England University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Western New England University is $47,820, 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 $27,290. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $20,726 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,500 in federal student loans.

Is Western New England University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Western New England University earn a median of $73,157, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.

Does Western New England University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

Western New England 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 2.02%, among the highest in the country. Access is narrower: only about 3.8% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 52.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $99,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is Western New England 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 Western New England University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.73, 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 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Is Western New England University really test-optional?

Western New England University reports test-optional admission, but most enrolled students still submit scores: about 1% of first-year students sent an SAT or ACT (2024-25 Common Data Set). Submitting strong scores is the norm here.

What percentage of admitted students enroll at Western New England University?

About 13% of admitted students choose to enroll at Western New England University — its yield rate (2024-25 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.

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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