Daemen University
Amherst, New York · Private Nonprofit · 68.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 73/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Daemen University scores 73 (Fair Value) at a small private university in Amherst, NY (suburban Buffalo) with 1,643 students. Nursing is the primary ROI anchor: 97 graduates, $79,376 year-one, $94,312 four-year, debt-to-earnings 0.409 (ROI grade B). Outside nursing, the program data is thin - Natural Sciences (110 graduates) shows a debt-to-earnings ratio of 4.223 (ROI grade F), an extreme outlier likely reflecting a small group with graduate-school-track earnings; Allied Health (32 graduates, $76,087 year-one, ROI grade B) is the other solid performer. The completion rate of 58.9% means more than 40% of enrolled students do not finish. Net price of $18,693 against a $35,218 sticker indicates meaningful institutional aid. Daemen's Western New York location gives graduates access to Buffalo's growing health and biotech sector, though the regional market is smaller than major metro areas.
Daemen University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $35,218/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $35,218/yr |
| Average net price | $18,693/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $74,772 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $61,808 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $46,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,091 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $234 |
| Estimated payback period | 8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 58.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,643 |
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: $35,218/year. Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $18,693/year, or roughly $74,772 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 $10,773/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $25,356/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $22,091 in federal loans, which works out to about $234 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $61,808 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.48, 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 | $10,773 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $13,276 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $17,289 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $18,863 |
| $110,001+ | $25,356 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $10,773 per year - affordable for a private university in the Buffalo market. Against nursing year-one earnings of $79,376, a low-income nursing student is building strong personal ROI. The completion rate of 58.9% is the primary risk.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 30,001-48,000 bracket pays $13,276 and the 48,001-75,000 bracket pays $17,289. The 75,001-110,000 bracket rises to $18,863 - a gentle slope with moderate costs throughout. Middle-income families should compare SUNY Brockport or SUNY Buffalo State (both public, lower net price) before choosing Daemen.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $25,356 per year. Over four years that approaches $101,000. Against median 6-year earnings of $46,400, the investment is reasonable for health science students. For students in lower-earning programs, $25,000/year against $33,000-$40,000 starting salaries is financially stressful.
Earnings by Major
Top 5 most popular majors at Daemen University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Natural Sciences | $76,980 | F |
| Registered Nursing | $94,312 | B |
| Psychology | $55,412 | - |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $51,458 | C+ |
| Social Work | $57,850 | 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
Registered Nursing (97 graduates) earns $79,376 year-one and $94,312 four-year, debt-to-earnings 0.409 (ROI grade B). Buffalo's expanding healthcare sector - anchored by Kaleida Health and Catholic Health systems - creates steady demand for BSN-prepared nurses. The debt-to-earnings ratio reflects Daemen's private pricing: graduates borrow more than at SUNY schools but earn comparable wages. The four-year figure ($94,312) reflects experienced RN advancement. At $18,693 net price, nursing graduates produce acceptable personal ROI - the degree is recoverable within a standard working career.
Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment
Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment (32 graduates) earns $76,087 year-one and $90,618 four-year, debt-to-earnings 0.373 (ROI grade B). This cluster includes physical therapy assistant, radiography, and diagnostic imaging programs that place graduates into hospital and clinic roles at above-average starting salaries. The ROI grade B and manageable debt-to-earnings ratio make this one of Daemen's stronger programs relative to cost. Buffalo's regional healthcare networks provide stable demand.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 75.3% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 81.7% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 70.6% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 72.9% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Daemen University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2023).
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 | 68.3% |
| Enrollment | 1,643 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 46.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,103 |
Daemen admits 68.3% of applicants - moderately accessible. SAT and ACT data are not reported to the Scorecard. Admission to specific health science programs typically has higher requirements than general university admission.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Daemen's peers include Adelphi (ROI 75), Albany College of Pharmacy (ROI 94), Simmons, Muhlenberg, and Rockhurst. Daemen (ROI 73) trails Adelphi (75) on ROI score with similar earnings and completion. Albany Pharmacy (94) dramatically outperforms Daemen because it is a specialized pharmacy school with near-guaranteed high earnings. Daemen's nursing and allied health programs are competitive with Adelphi's health science programs, while the overall institution scores similarly.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daemen University (this school) | 73 | $18,693 | $61,808 |
| Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | 94 | $29,882 | $131,426 |
| Rockhurst University | 78 | $25,884 | $67,102 |
| Adelphi University | 75 | $30,783 | $75,482 |
| Muhlenberg College | 74 | $28,905 | $69,107 |
| Simmons University | 72 | $25,265 | $63,494 |
Who Thrives Here
Daemen does not report SAT or ACT data to the Scorecard. The 68.3% admission rate signals moderate accessibility. With a 46.2% Pell rate, Daemen serves a predominantly lower-to-middle-income Buffalo-area student population. Nursing and allied health students have the most direct path to strong outcomes. The 58.9% completion rate means students should honestly assess their likelihood of finishing before committing to the $18,693 annual net price.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Daemen University is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $18,693 a year after aid ($74,772 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $61,808 a decade out, the cost takes about 8 years to earn back. That's roughly average - not a bargain, not a mistake.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $22,091 against $61,808 in earnings is reasonable, though your major matters a lot here. Graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
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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.