Iona University
New Rochelle, New York · Private Nonprofit · 86.9% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 70/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Iona University scores 70 (Fair Value) on CampusROI. The 6.7-year payback period and $45,900 average 6-year earnings provide the foundation, but the 56% completion rate (only slightly more than half of students finish) and high median debt of $25,999 limit the score. Communication Disorders Sciences (26 graduates, year-four $77,352, B+ grade) and Social Work (15 graduates, year-four $66,417, B grade) are the top-grade programs. Finance ($53,084 year-one, $84,128 year-four, B grade) and Accounting ($46,266 year-one, $89,359 year-four, C+ grade) anchor the business programs. The International Relations program has a year-one figure of $18,148 and an F-grade (debt-to-earnings 1.488), which is an extreme outcome. New Rochelle's proximity to New York City - approximately 30 minutes by train - is a meaningful labor market asset for graduates who complete degrees in business or communications.
Iona University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $47,260/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $47,260/yr |
| Average net price | $29,188/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $116,752 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $73,595 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $45,900 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,999 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $276 |
| Estimated payback period | 6.7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 56.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,951 |
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: $47,260/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $29,188/year, or roughly $116,752 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 $25,785/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $32,295/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $25,999, which works out to about $276 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($45,900) and comes to 0.57, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
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 | $25,785 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $27,075 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $28,601 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $29,598 |
| $110,001+ | $32,295 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $25,785 per year at Iona - $103,140 over four years. This is a high net price for the lowest income bracket given the institution's earnings profile. The 30001-48000 bracket pays $27,075 - slightly higher. Low-income students at Iona face a challenging financial structure: $103,000+ in four-year cost against $45,900 average 6-year earnings and a 56% completion rate. Students from lower-income backgrounds who complete the degree and leverage NYC proximity in finance or communications will perform above the institutional median.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $28,601 per year and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $29,598. The nearly flat pricing structure across all income bands ($25,785 to $32,295) indicates Iona provides minimal income-based aid differentiation. Middle-income families face approximately $114,000-$118,000 in four-year cost. This compressed pricing is the primary financial concern: most students pay approximately the same price regardless of family income, limiting the institution's value proposition for lower-income families.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning over $110,000 pay $32,295 per year - approximately $129,000 over four years. At $45,900 average 6-year earnings and a 6.7-year payback, the financial case is reasonable for finance and accounting majors who access the NYC market. For other programs with lower earnings trajectories, the payback period extends considerably beyond the institutional average.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Iona University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing | $69,542 | C |
| Psychology | $60,525 | D |
| Communication and Media Studies | $58,650 | D |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $58,688 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $70,790 | C |
| Finance and Financial Management | $84,128 | B |
| Teacher Education | $57,669 | B |
| Accounting | $89,359 | C+ |
| Communication Disorders Sciences | $77,352 | B+ |
| International Relations | $59,151 | F |
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.
Communication Disorders Sciences
Communication Disorders Sciences (26 graduates) earns $77,352 at year four (no year-one data) with median debt of $26,000 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.336 (ROI grade B+). This program, which prepares graduates for speech-language pathology roles, requires a master's degree for full licensure - the undergraduate credential is preparation for graduate school rather than direct employment at licensed SLP salaries. The B+ grade reflects the intermediate step: undergraduate completers who enter the workforce early earn $77,352 at year four, while those completing graduate school achieve higher licensed rates.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance (43 graduates) earns $53,084 year-one and $84,128 year-four with median debt of $22,656 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.427 (ROI grade B). Year-one earnings above $53,000 against $22,656 median debt - below the institutional median - creates a manageable financial structure. The four-year trajectory to $84,128 reflects career advancement in financial services.
Accounting
Accounting (28 graduates) earns $46,266 year-one and $89,359 year-four with median debt of $25,363 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.548 (ROI grade C+). The four-year trajectory is strong.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (45 graduates) earns $40,156 year-one and $70,790 year-four with median debt of $27,000 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.672 (ROI grade C). Year-one earnings just above $40,000 against $27,000 debt is tighter than the finance or accounting tracks. The four-year improvement to $70,790 indicates career advancement in the New York metro business market. Business administration at Iona provides broad access to NYC metro employers for graduates who build internship connections during the undergraduate years.
Marketing
Year-one earnings near $40,000 against $24,000 debt is manageable. The four-year growth to $69,542 reflects advancement in marketing and communications roles in the NYC metro. Marketing benefits from the same NYC proximity advantage as finance and accounting but produces lower starting salaries.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 75.8% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 80.9% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 77.6% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 78.4% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Iona 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 | 86.9% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 540-650 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 570-650 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 24-29 |
| Enrollment | 2,951 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 28.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,406 |
At 86.9% admission with SAT 540-650 Math and 570-650 Reading, Iona is broadly accessible. ACT 24-29 is the composite range. The New York location premium means that Iona's open-admission profile does not fully predict the career competitiveness of graduates - NYC metro access elevates outcomes for students who complete and leverage the proximity. The 56% completion rate indicates that many students do not finish, and those who carry debt without a degree face a difficult financial trajectory.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iona University (this school) | 70 | $29,188 | $73,595 |
| Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | 94 | $29,882 | $131,426 |
| Adelphi University | 75 | $30,783 | $75,482 |
| Saint Xavier University | 72 | $10,970 | $58,656 |
| Azusa Pacific University | 71 | $22,212 | $66,677 |
| University of St Thomas | 69 | $19,359 | $59,224 |
Who Thrives Here
Iona admits 86.9% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 540-650 Math and 570-650 Reading; ACT 24-29. Enrollment is 2,951. Pell rate of 28.3% reflects significant low-to-moderate income representation. New Rochelle is a suburban Westchester community with direct Metro-North rail access to Manhattan - the New York City labor market is effectively Iona's career backyard for graduates in business, finance, and communications. Students who choose Iona and actively leverage internship and employment connections in the NYC metro will extract more value than the aggregate metrics suggest. The 56% completion rate is the primary institutional risk factor.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Iona University is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $29,188 a year after aid ($116,752 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $73,595 a decade out, the cost takes about 6.7 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Median debt of $25,999 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $45,900 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.57, 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.
Iona University: Common Questions
Is Iona University worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Iona University is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 70/100 on our ROI scale. At $29,188 a year after aid ($116,752 over four years) against $73,595 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 6.7 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Iona 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 $29,188 a year, or roughly $116,752 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 Iona University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $73,595 ten years after enrolling, roughly $31,795 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 Iona 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 6.7 years for Iona University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Iona University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,999, against average earnings of $45,900 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.57. 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 Iona University?
The six-year graduation rate is 56.0%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (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.