Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · Private Nonprofit · 83.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 75/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Duquesne University is a private Catholic institution in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, enrolling about 5,350 undergraduates on a bluff overlooking the Monongahela River. Sticker tuition is $48,986, but average net price is $37,730 - relatively high by comparison, with even the lowest-income bracket paying $29,986. Duquesne earns a Strong Value ROI score of 75, supported by a 77.5% graduation rate, a 7.3-year payback period, median six-year earnings of $54,500, and a strong 87.8% repayment rate. The university's health sciences, pharmacy, and STEM programs generate the highest returns, with Allied Health diagnostic graduates reaching $105,387 at four years. Business and nursing are high-volume programs with solid but not exceptional ROI grades. Psychology, arts, and history programs carry D grades. Duquesne's Pittsburgh location is a genuine asset: the city's health system corridor, tech growth, and corporate presence create real placement opportunities across the university's program range.
Duquesne University scores in the top 25% of all schools we track, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
Duquesne University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $48,986/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $48,986/yr |
| Average net price | $37,730/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $150,920 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $74,742 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $54,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,244 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $278 |
| Estimated payback period | 7.3 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 77.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 5,350 |
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: $48,986/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 $37,730/year, or roughly $150,920 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 $29,986/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $41,273/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $26,244 in federal loans, which works out to about $278 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $74,742 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 | $29,986 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $31,729 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $32,102 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $35,611 |
| $110,001+ | $41,273 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $29,986 net - Duquesne's lowest-income price is the highest absolute net price in this cohort at that bracket. The 7.3-year payback and 87.8% repayment rate are institutional strengths, but the absolute cost is a meaningful barrier. Low-income students should compare Duquesne's aid package against in-state public options like Penn State or Pitt and use the net price calculator before committing.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $30,001 - $75,000 band pays $31,729 - $32,102. At this cost, Duquesne's value case requires a B-grade or better program and a committed graduation plan. The 77.5% graduation rate is encouraging, but middle-income families face four years of $31,000+ investment against uncertain early-career salaries in lower-ROI programs.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Above $75,000, families pay $35,611 - $41,273. At these cost levels, Duquesne competes with Villanova, Gonzaga, and other ranked Catholic institutions. The 10-year median of $74,742 and 87.8% repayment rate justify the premium for health sciences and STEM, but liberal arts students face a harder case.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Duquesne University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $84,802 | B |
| Marketing | $66,542 | C |
| Psychology | $48,850 | D |
| Biology | $70,958 | D |
| Finance and Financial Management | $83,781 | C+ |
| Teacher Education | $49,883 | C |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $64,538 | C |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $92,789 | B+ |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $72,059 | B |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $77,822 | 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.
Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment
Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment is Duquesne's highest-earning program, graduating 42 students with four-year earnings of $105,387 and a B+ grade at a 0.26 debt-to-earnings ratio. This likely encompasses sonography and other imaging professions. The combination of high post-graduation wages and moderate debt makes this one of the most efficient programs in Duquesne's portfolio.
Biomedical Engineering
Biomedical Engineering graduates 26 students with four-year earnings of $88,272 and a B+ ROI grade at a 0.31 debt-to-earnings ratio. Pittsburgh's medical device and research infrastructure - driven by UPMC and Carnegie Mellon partnerships - makes Duquesne BME graduates competitive in a premium job market.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is Duquesne's largest program at 259 graduates with year-one earnings of $70,265 and $84,802 at four years. A B grade and 0.38 debt-to-earnings ratio against $27,000 median debt are reasonable for a private university nursing program. Pittsburgh's health system - one of the largest in Pennsylvania - provides robust post-graduation employment.
Computer and Information Sciences
CIS graduates 49 students with year-one earnings of $64,914 and $92,789 at four years. A B+ grade and 0.35 debt-to-earnings ratio confirm strong performance. Duquesne's Pittsburgh location in a growing tech corridor enhances placement prospects for computer science graduates relative to more isolated private institutions.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance graduates 66 students with year-one earnings of $59,878 and $83,781 at four years, earning a C+ grade. The 0.45 debt-to-earnings ratio is the weak link; graduates carry $27,000 in median debt against a first-year salary that produces a manageable but imperfect ratio. Four-year earnings show strong upside for persistent professionals.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 85.5% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 87.8% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 84.9% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 86.8% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Duquesne 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 | 83.6% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 580-670 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 600-670 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 26-32 |
| Enrollment | 5,350 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 20.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $10,204 |
Duquesne admits about 84% of applicants. The middle 50% ACT runs 26 - 32 and SAT 580 - 670, indicating a solidly prepared applicant pool. Merit scholarships are available. Given the $37,730 net price, applicants should request a detailed aid estimate and compare outcomes against Penn State's lower-cost campuses and Pitt's in-state rates before deciding.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Peers include Butler University and University of St. Thomas - MN, both strong Catholic private institutions with similar size and mission. Duquesne's repayment rate of 87.8% and graduation rate of 77.5% compare favorably. Its Allied Health and BME programs are distinct differentiators tied to Pittsburgh's health-system infrastructure. Butler's lower net price in some income brackets and Gonzaga's stronger national brand visibility are factors students should weigh.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duquesne University (this school) | 75 | $37,730 | $74,742 |
| University of St Thomas | 81 | $29,155 | $73,739 |
| Gonzaga University | 81 | $35,119 | $78,892 |
| Butler University | 79 | $36,041 | $77,235 |
| Albright College | 56 | $20,024 | $58,700 |
| Bryn Athyn College of the New Church | 34 | $20,586 | $40,457 |
Who Thrives Here
Duquesne suits students who want a faith-grounded Catholic education in an urban setting with strong health-sciences infrastructure. The 84% admissions rate makes it accessible; ACT 26 - 32 and SAT 580 - 670 reading/math describe a well-prepared mid-range admit. Students targeting Allied Health, biomedical engineering, nursing, or computer science have access to programs with documented strong ROI at B to B+ grades. Students in arts, humanities, or social sciences face a higher price-to-return tension given the $37,730 net price.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, Duquesne University pays off. You'd pay about $37,730 a year after aid ($150,920 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $74,742 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 7.3 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: its 77.5% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $26,244 against $74,742 in earnings is reasonable, though your major matters a lot here. Graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
From CampusROI, when there is something worth acting on.
Rankings & Links
Guides & Tools
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.