Manhattanville University
Purchase, New York · Private Nonprofit · 87.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 59/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Manhattanville University scores 59 (Below Average Value) on the CampusROI scale. The institution is a small private liberal arts school in Purchase, NY with a 58.4% completion rate (sub-score 58), 78.5% repayment rate (sub-score 65), and a 9.4-year payback period (sub-score 65). Net price is $20,991 against $44,604 sticker tuition - Manhattanville provides substantial institutional aid. Median debt is $25,000, producing a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.633 (sub-score 43). Six-year average earnings are $39,500 with a 10-year median of $58,832. The program picture is sharply bifurcated: Finance (16 graduates, C+, $53,434 year-one) is the best financial outcome with meaningful scale; Psychology (43 graduates, F, DTE 1.138) and Kinesiology (45 graduates, F, DTE 1.016) both earn F grades. Business Administration (56 graduates, D) is the highest-volume program but earns only $35,423 year-one - a weak first-year outcome against $20,991 net price. Marketing (10 graduates, C) and Finance are the only programs above C+ grade. Rhetoric/Writing (14 graduates, F) and several other programs have DTE ratios above 1.0. Manhattanville's Westchester County location and historical liberal arts identity attract students who pay for location and community - the financial outcomes reflect a curriculum weighted toward arts, social sciences, and general business rather than high-demand technical or health fields.
Manhattanville University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $44,604/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $44,604/yr |
| Average net price | $20,991/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $83,964 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $58,832 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $39,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $265 |
| Estimated payback period | 9.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 58.4% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,362 |
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: $44,604/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $20,991/year, or roughly $83,964 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 $13,548/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $27,319/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 ($39,500) and comes to 0.63, 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 | $13,548 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $15,131 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $18,072 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $23,287 |
| $110,001+ | $27,319 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $13,548 per year at Manhattanville - meaningfully below the $20,991 average. The 30001-48000 bracket pays $15,131. For a $44,604 tuition institution, $14-15k annually represents aggressive discounting for low-income students. Four-year cost at the bottom bracket runs roughly $54-60k. Against a 58.4% completion rate and 9.4-year payback, low-income students need to weigh the genuine financial risk of non-completion at this price point.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $18,072 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $23,287. The income schedule steps up predictably through middle income. At $18-23k annually, Manhattanville is modestly priced relative to its sticker tuition. Middle-income families are benefiting from substantial institutional aid discounting. The financial case depends on program selection: finance students at $20k annually have a defensible path; psychology or kinesiology students at the same price do not.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The 110001-plus bracket pays $27,319. Four-year cost for higher-income families approaches $109,000. At $27k annually and a $39,500 six-year average earnings, the financial case requires clear career intent in finance or a high-demand field.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Manhattanville University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $76,753 | D |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $61,395 | F |
| Psychology | $63,908 | F |
| Communication and Media Studies | $60,523 | D |
| Teacher Education | $53,971 | - |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $48,629 | - |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $56,117 | - |
| Finance and Financial Management | $76,914 | C+ |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $46,500 | F |
| History | $19,473 | - |
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.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance (16 graduates) is Manhattanville's best financial outcome: $53,434 year-one, $76,914 at year four, C+ grade, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.468 against $25,000 median debt. The C+ grade reflects adequate returns in a high-cost suburban New York setting. The four-year jump to $77k is the significant signal - finance graduates who build careers in the New York metro over the first several years post-graduation can reach meaningful earnings, and the Purchase location facilitates that access.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (56 graduates) is the largest program at Manhattanville, earning $35,423 year-one and $76,753 at year four, with a D grade and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.734 against $26,000 median debt. The D grade reflects the weak year-one figure relative to debt - $35k first-year earnings against $26k debt produces a 9% monthly debt-to-income burden. The four-year jump to $77k mirrors the finance trajectory, suggesting that business graduates who stay in the field build strong careers, but the early years are financially strained.
Psychology
Psychology (43 graduates) earns an F ROI grade: $21,970 year-one, $63,908 at year four, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.138 against $25,000 median debt. Monthly payments of roughly $265 represent approximately 14% of $22k annual gross income. The year-one figure is $21,970. The four-year jump to $64k is substantial - likely reflecting the portion of psychology graduates who complete graduate or doctoral programs - but the near-term financial pressure is severe for those who enter the workforce directly with a bachelor's degree.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 69.8% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 78.5% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 77.1% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 79.2% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Manhattanville 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 | 87.3% |
| Enrollment | 1,362 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 35.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,614 |
At 87.3%, Manhattanville is broadly accessible. No SAT or ACT ranges are reported. The institution's near-open admissions profile means the challenge is retention and completion (58.4%), not entry. Students considering Manhattanville should weigh program selection carefully: the gap between the best financial outcomes (Finance, C+) and the worst (Psychology, F; Kinesiology, F) is substantial. The New York metro location is a meaningful post-graduation advantage for students who can translate their degree into the regional labor market.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manhattanville University (this school) | 59 | $20,991 | $58,832 |
| Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | 94 | $29,882 | $131,426 |
| Adelphi University | 75 | $30,783 | $75,482 |
| AdventHealth University | 63 | $30,135 | $72,282 |
| Walla Walla University | 62 | $23,329 | $61,885 |
| Simpson College | 60 | $21,936 | $59,274 |
Who Thrives Here
Manhattanville admits 87.3% of applicants. SAT and ACT ranges are not reported in Scorecard. Enrollment is 1,362 undergraduates. The Pell grant rate of 35.1% reflects a mixed-income student body. Manhattanville's Purchase, NY location - 30 miles from Manhattan - is a significant draw for students interested in arts, communications, and finance careers in the New York metro. Students who thrive here typically value the proximity to New York and the small campus environment. The financial outcomes make clear that program choice matters significantly: finance and marketing students build meaningful careers; psychology and kinesiology graduates face early-career financial strain.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Manhattanville University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $20,991 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $58,832 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 9.4 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What to keep an eye on: a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63 (median across the schools we score: 0.61).
Median debt of $25,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $39,500 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Manhattanville University: Common Questions
Is Manhattanville University worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Manhattanville University scores 59/100 on our ROI scale. At $20,991 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $58,832 ten years after entry, so it takes about 9.4 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Manhattanville 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 $20,991 a year, or roughly $83,964 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 Manhattanville University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $58,832 ten years after enrolling, roughly $17,032 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 Manhattanville 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 9.4 years for Manhattanville University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Manhattanville University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,000, against average earnings of $39,500 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Manhattanville University?
The six-year graduation rate is 58.4%. 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.