Creighton University
Omaha, Nebraska · Private Nonprofit · 79.8% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 79/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Creighton University scores 79 (Strong Value) on the CampusROI scale - a high score for a mid-sized Jesuit private university. The 6.8-year payback period, 83.4% completion rate, and 87.5% repayment rate define a financially healthy institution. Average 6-year earnings are $50,900 against a net price of $31,568. Registered Nursing leads by volume (280 graduates, $77,587 year-one, B+ grade), while Computer and Information Sciences posts $104,314 four-year earnings with limited data. Accounting earns a B grade (50 graduates, $68,070 year-one, $95,837 year-four), and Management Sciences earns a B grade (79 graduates, $65,365 year-one). Finance earns a B grade (131 graduates, $60,605 year-one, $89,079 year-four). Weaker programs include Biology (D grade, 64 graduates), Research Psychology (D grade, 74 graduates), and Physiology (F grade, 80 graduates). The F-grade Physiology program reflects pre-professional students heading to graduate or medical school - the low year-one earnings ($23,926) reflect post-baccalaureate enrollment rather than weak career outcomes. Creighton is a Jesuit university in Omaha with a medical school, law school, and health professions graduate programs that create professional-track pipelines.
Creighton University scores in the top 14% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
Creighton University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $48,856/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $48,856/yr |
| Average net price | $31,568/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $126,272 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $73,911 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $50,900 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $265 |
| Estimated payback period | 6.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 83.4% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 4,348 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $48,856/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $31,568/year, or roughly $126,272 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $20,472/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $35,090/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $25,000, which works out to about $265 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($50,900) and comes to 0.49, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $20,472 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $22,095 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $23,405 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $28,113 |
| $110,001+ | $35,090 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning $0-30,000 pay $20,472 per year at Creighton. Total 4-year cost near $82,000 requires significant borrowing for Pell-eligible students. Creighton's 11.5% Pell rate indicates lower-income students are a small share of enrollment, which may reflect less aggressive outreach to this population.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families pay $23,405 (48001-75000) and $28,113 (75001-110000) per year. For nursing and business students, these costs pay back within the 6.8-year payback period. For students in lower-earning programs like biology pre-med or psychology, near-term earnings depress the payback timeline significantly. Families should model program-specific outcomes rather than institutional averages.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $35,090 per year - approximately $140,000 over four years. Against $50,900 average earnings and a 6.8-year payback period, the full-pay case is financially solid for most program tracks. The Jesuit credential and health professions pipeline create long-run value that Scorecard 6-year earnings do not fully capture. Full-pay families whose students are targeting medicine, law, or business graduate programs will find the Creighton pre-professional platform a functionally valuable choice.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Creighton University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $84,294 | B+ |
| Finance and Financial Management | $89,079 | B |
| Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences | $74,391 | F |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $85,268 | B |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $26,845 | D |
| Marketing | $85,891 | B |
| Biology | $51,544 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $73,110 | C |
| Accounting | $95,837 | B |
| Economics | $75,602 | C+ |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is the highest-volume program at 280 graduates and earns a B+ grade: $77,587 year-one, $84,294 year-four, debt-to-earnings 0.348 with median debt $27,000. Year-one earnings of $77,587 in the Omaha-metro market reflect solid placement into Nebraska Medicine, CHI Health, and regional healthcare systems. The B+ grade indicates strong earnings with manageable debt. Creighton's nursing program benefits from the medical school's clinical affiliations and hospital placement relationships.
Accounting
50 graduates, $68,070 year-one, $95,837 year-four, ROI grade B with debt-to-earnings 0.395 and median debt $26,893. Accounting at Creighton shows strong career progression - from $68k year-one to $95k at year four - consistent with public accounting career tracks through promotion. Creighton's Heider College of Business has national accounting recruiting relationships with Big Four and regional firms.
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
79 graduates, $65,365 year-one, $85,268 year-four, ROI grade B with debt-to-earnings 0.382 and median debt $24,951. Management sciences - analytics, quantitative business methods - earns a B grade with above-average earnings for the institutional profile. The $85k four-year figure reflects the cross-sector demand for quantitative business skills in finance, supply chain, and operations. At $24,951 median debt, this program produces a debt-to-earnings ratio that earns its B grade.
Finance and Financial Management
131 graduates, $60,605 year-one, $89,079 year-four, ROI grade B with debt-to-earnings 0.445 and median debt $26,975. Finance earns a B grade with strong four-year growth from $60k to $89k - consistent with career progression in banking, financial planning, and corporate finance. Berkshire Hathaway, TD Ameritrade heritage firms, and regional banks hire Creighton finance graduates.
Marketing
67 graduates, $56,641 year-one, $85,891 year-four, ROI grade B with debt-to-earnings 0.428 and median debt $24,250. Marketing earns a B grade with a strong four-year trajectory from $56k to $85k. The year-four figure suggests marketing graduates are advancing into brand management, digital marketing leadership, and product roles. The Heider College of Business provides recruiting infrastructure.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 85.2% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 87.5% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 81.4% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 86.7% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Creighton University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 79.8% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 623-720 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 620-708 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 26-31 |
| Enrollment | 4,348 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 11.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $10,809 |
Creighton's 79.8% admission rate and ACT range of 26-31 indicate accessible-but-selective enrollment. The Jesuit admissions ethos emphasizes the whole-person profile, meaning strong academic achievement matters alongside character and service engagement. The 83.4% completion rate indicates that most students who are admitted and enroll complete their degree.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Creighton University (this school) | 79 | $31,568 | $73,911 |
| Gonzaga University | 81 | $35,119 | $78,892 |
| Butler University | 79 | $36,041 | $77,235 |
| Seattle University | 79 | $34,662 | $75,272 |
| Clarkson College | 71 | $19,241 | $64,876 |
| Bellevue University | 65 | $17,550 | $61,289 |
Who Thrives Here
Creighton admits 79.8% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 623-720 Math and 620-708 Reading; ACT composite 26-31. Enrollment is 4,348 - a moderate-size Jesuit university with a strong professional programs identity. The 11.5% Pell rate is low, reflecting the predominantly middle-to-upper-income student composition. Creighton attracts students interested in health professions, business, and law. The pre-med track is historically strong given Creighton's medical school affiliation. Students drawn to Jesuit educational values - cura personalis, service, ethics - will find an environment that aligns with that framework.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, Creighton University pays off. You'd pay about $31,568 a year after aid ($126,272 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $73,911 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 6.8 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: its 83.4% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $25,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $50,900 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Creighton University: Common Questions
Is Creighton University worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Creighton University pays off. It scores 79/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $31,568 a year after aid ($126,272 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $73,911 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 6.8 years to earn back.
How much does Creighton University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $31,568 a year, or roughly $126,272 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Creighton University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $73,911 ten years after enrolling, roughly $32,111 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Creighton University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 6.8 years for Creighton University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Creighton University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,000, against average earnings of $50,900 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Creighton University?
The six-year graduation rate is 83.4%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.