Marywood University
Scranton, Pennsylvania · Private Nonprofit · 60.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 51/100 · Below Average Value
Marywood University earns an overall ROI score of 51 (Below Average Value), one of the stronger scores in this batch. The Scranton, PA Catholic private nonprofit charges $41,420 tuition with an average net price of $23,388 -- a meaningful 44% discount. Four-year cost runs $93,552. Median earnings hit $36,500 six years out and $55,817 at 10 years, with $26,186 median debt and debt-to-earnings of 0.717. Payback is 11.2 years. The standout strength is completion at 71.7% -- significantly above sector norms and a key driver of the relatively healthy score. Repayment is steady at 76.8% three-year. The program-level data shows a strong health-professions cluster: Health Professions Residency Programs earns an A grade with extraordinary $130,682 four-year earnings, Communication Disorders Sciences earns a B+, Nursing pulls a C+ despite high debt, and Dietetics earns a C+. The architecture program is notable at 50 graduates per cycle (one of the larger non-nursing programs in this batch's institutions). Marywood's mid-tier Catholic identity, strong professional programs, and unusually high completion rate combine to make this a genuinely defensible private nonprofit option in northeastern Pennsylvania.
Marywood University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $41,420/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $41,420/yr |
| Average net price | $23,388/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $93,552 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $55,817 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $36,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,186 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $278 |
| Estimated payback period | 11.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 71.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,784 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Marywood University is $41,420/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $23,388/year, or roughly $93,552 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $18,941/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $28,365/year.
The median graduate leaves with $26,186 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $278 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $55,817 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.72 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
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 | $18,941 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $21,192 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $21,303 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $24,083 |
| $110,001+ | $28,365 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30K pay $18,941 net per year. Four-year cost is $76K. Pell plus institutional aid produces meaningful discount, and the high completion rate reduces attrition risk. Workable for any of the strong professional programs.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 30-48K bracket pays $21,192 and 48-75K pays $21,303 -- nearly identical. The 75-110K bracket pays $24,083. Four-year cost runs $85K-$96K. Mid-band pricing for the private nonprofit sector. Defensible for health professions and architecture tracks.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families over $110K pay $28,365 -- still below the $41,420 sticker. Four-year cost is $113K. At this price the value question depends on program: Marywood's health-professions and architecture tracks justify the spend; liberal arts and education tracks are weaker. Penn State and other in-state Pennsylvania publics are the natural comparison.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Marywood University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | $67,178 | C |
| Registered Nursing | $92,915 | C+ |
| Communication Disorders Sciences | $69,872 | B+ |
| Psychology | $45,088 | C |
| Teacher Education | $49,229 | D |
| Health Professions, Residency Programs | $130,682 | A |
| Biology | $57,765 | C |
| Design and Applied Arts | $25,727 | F |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | $56,476 | C+ |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $49,106 | 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.
Health Professions, Residency Programs
Health Professions Residency Programs earns an A grade with 21 graduates and extraordinary outcomes: $130,682 four-year median earnings against $25,125 median debt -- a 0.192 debt-to-earnings ratio. This category typically captures advanced clinical credentials like physician assistant, physical therapy doctorate, or similar professional-degree pathways. The earnings figure is among the highest in CampusROI's program data. For students entering these tracks, Marywood is a strong financial proposition.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing earns a C+ with 28 graduates. First-year earnings of $73,240 climb to $92,915 at four years against unusually high $36,489 median debt -- producing a 0.498 ratio. The strong earnings absorb the debt comfortably but Marywood's nursing program borrows more than peers. Solid outcomes overall.
Communication Disorders Sciences
Communication Disorders Sciences earns a B+ with 25 graduates. Four-year earnings of $69,872 against $24,187 debt produces a 0.346 ratio. This is a feeder track for speech-language pathology graduate programs, and Marywood's strong placement into SLP graduate work produces the elevated earnings outcomes.
Architecture
Architecture earns a C with 50 graduates -- the largest reportable program at Marywood. First-year earnings of $48,650 climb to $67,178 at four years against $31,000 debt -- a 0.637 ratio. Strong four-year trajectory reflects Marywood's accredited B.Arch program feeding into Mid-Atlantic firms. Debt is heavier than the institutional median but proportional to the credential value.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education earns a D with 25 graduates. First-year earnings of $38,598 against $27,000 debt produces a 0.7 ratio. Pennsylvania teaching wages are middling and Marywood's pricing makes the financial case difficult. Students committed to teaching should price-compare against PASSHE state-system options.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 72.9% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 76.8% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 75.0% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 75.8% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 60.6% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 530-610 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 530-640 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 18-30 |
| Enrollment | 1,784 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 32.0% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,773 |
Marywood admits 60.6% of applicants. SAT mid-ranges are 530-610 math and 530-640 reading; ACT mid-range is unusually wide at 18-30. The wide ACT range suggests the admissions process accommodates significant preparation variation. The 71.7% completion rate is notably high, indicating that Marywood's academic support infrastructure successfully serves the wider preparation band -- a meaningful institutional strength.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Peers include Bryn Athyn College of the New Church, Albright College, Union University, Bob Jones University, and University of Charleston. Albright is the most directly comparable -- another Pennsylvania mid-tier private with similar pricing. Union and Bob Jones are Southern faith-based privates with different demographic profiles. Bryn Athyn is a tiny Swedenborgian school. University of Charleston is a West Virginia private. Within this peer set Marywood's combination of high completion and strong professional programs stands out as the better ROI option.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marywood University (this school) | 51 | $23,388 | $55,817 |
| Albright College | 56 | $20,024 | $58,700 |
| Union University | 52 | $27,171 | $53,990 |
| University of Charleston | 52 | $22,107 | $55,774 |
| Bob Jones University | 47 | $16,641 | $44,354 |
| Bryn Athyn College of the New Church | 34 | $20,586 | $40,457 |
Who Thrives Here
Marywood fits Pennsylvania and Northeast students drawn to Catholic identity, strong health-professions programs, and a mid-size (1,784 enrolled) campus experience in Scranton. Pell rate is 32% -- a relatively middle-income student body. The fit case is strongest for health professions, nursing, communication disorders, dietetics, and architecture students. The high completion rate makes Marywood a safer institutional bet than many private nonprofit peers.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The financial case for Marywood University is mixed. At $23,388 per year net cost, graduates earn a median of $55,817 ten years after entry - a payback period of 11.2 years. That's below the average return for four-year institutions, and prospective students should carefully consider whether the investment aligns with their financial goals.
Key strengths include a 71.7% graduation rate. However, the data also shows high debt relative to what graduates earn.
Median debt of $26,186 against $55,817 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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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.