Nazareth University
Rochester, New York · Private Nonprofit · 74.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 49/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Nazareth University, a Catholic-tradition private nonprofit in Rochester, NY, posts an ROI score of 49 - Below Average Value tier. Nazareth enrolls 1,873 students at its Pittsford campus and offers a strong portfolio of healthcare, education, and liberal-arts programs. Sticker tuition is $42,450 with net price of $29,357 producing a $117,428 four-year all-in. Six-year average earnings are $39,500, climbing to a median $56,458 by year ten. The 12-year payback period is moderate. The strongest sub-score is completion rate (83) at 72.8%, a meaningful institutional achievement reflecting strong student support. The 75.6% three-year repayment rate is also solid. Median debt of $26,038 produces a 0.659 debt-to-earnings ratio. The score is held down by earnings premium (36). Strong programs include Nursing (B with $76,684 first-year earnings), Health Professions, Communication Disorders Sciences, and Health/Medical Preparatory programs. Drama and Romance Languages programs receive F grades.
Nazareth University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $42,450/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $42,450/yr |
| Average net price | $29,357/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $117,428 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $56,458 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $39,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,038 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $276 |
| Estimated payback period | 12 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 72.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,873 |
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: $42,450/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $29,357/year, or roughly $117,428 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 $22,796/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $34,267/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $26,038, 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 ($39,500) and comes to 0.66, 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 | $22,796 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $22,827 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $25,663 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $31,634 |
| $110,001+ | $34,267 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning $0-$30,000 face a net price of $22,796. With Pell, NY State TAP, and institutional aid stacking, this bracket sees meaningful aid leverage. The four-year cost of about $91,000 against $39,500 six-year earnings is workable for healthcare-program completers.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $22,827, $48,001-$75,000 pays $25,663. NY middle-income families benefit from TAP-eligible aid stacking.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The $75,001-$110,000 bracket pays $31,634 and $110,001-plus pays $34,267 - approaching sticker. Higher-income families lose much of the aid leverage.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Nazareth University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $50,903 | D |
| Registered Nursing | $87,529 | B |
| Communication Disorders Sciences | $60,754 | B |
| Biology | $58,371 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $57,193 | C |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $36,117 | F |
| Health Professions, Residency Programs | $71,968 | B |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | $62,585 | B |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $53,350 | C+ |
| History | $55,271 | 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.
Psychology
Psychology is Nazareth's largest program with 66 graduates. First-year earnings of $32,375 climb to $50,903 by year four. Median debt of $25,000 produces a 0.772 ratio and D grade. As elsewhere, undergraduate psychology outcomes are constrained without graduate study; Nazareth psychology serves as feeder to graduate programs in counseling, social work, and clinical psychology. Cumulative borrowing should be planned carefully.
Registered Nursing
Nursing graduates 52 students with first-year earnings of $76,684 climbing to $87,529 by year four. Median debt of $27,000 produces a 0.352 ratio and B grade. The Rochester healthcare market (Strong Memorial, Rochester Regional) absorbs Nazareth nursing graduates with strong starting wages. This is the institution's clearest value-delivery program.
Communication Disorders Sciences
Communication Disorders graduates 50 students with four-year out earnings of $60,754. Median debt of $27,000 produces a 0.444 ratio and B grade. Nazareth has a nationally respected speech-language pathology pipeline; the program likely feeds into master's-level SLP credentialing where mid-career earnings climb substantially. Strong B-grade outcome at the bachelor's level.
Biology
Biology graduates 40 students with first-year earnings of $33,343 climbing to $58,371 by year four. Median debt of $27,000 produces a 0.81 ratio and D grade. Bachelor's-only biology outcomes are constrained without graduate or professional school. Nazareth biology serves as pre-health pipeline; the strong four-year ramp suggests successful graduate-school placement.
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Drama graduates 29 students - a substantial theatre cohort relative to enrollment. First-year earnings are just $23,511 climbing to $36,117 by year four. Median debt of $27,000 produces a 1.148 debt-to-earnings ratio and F grade. As at most schools, theatre outcomes are constrained by the structural earnings ceiling in performance arts; Nazareth's strong overall academic environment doesn't change the discipline-specific economics.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 71.9% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 75.6% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 78.5% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 82.4% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Nazareth 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 | 74.7% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 540-670 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 530-650 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 23-32 |
| Enrollment | 1,873 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 26.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,439 |
Nazareth's admission rate is 74.7% - moderately accessible. SAT mid-ranges are 540-670 math and 530-650 reading, with ACT 23-32. The 73% completion rate comes with moderate selectivity. Nazareth admits academically capable students and effectively retains and graduates them.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nazareth University (this school) | 49 | $29,357 | $56,458 |
| Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | 94 | $29,882 | $131,426 |
| Adelphi University | 75 | $30,783 | $75,482 |
| McKendree University | 51 | $24,717 | $58,572 |
| Taylor University | 50 | $24,865 | $52,198 |
| Bob Jones University | 47 | $16,641 | $44,354 |
Who Thrives Here
Nazareth enrolls 1,873 students with a Pell Grant rate of 26.3% - a moderate-need student body. The fit case here is a New York resident with strong academic preparation, drawn to the Catholic-tradition liberal-arts community in suburban Rochester, and aimed at one of Nazareth's strong healthcare or education programs. Students aimed at nursing, communication disorders, or health professions see the strongest financial outcomes. Liberal arts students should weigh the four-year cost of $117,000 against post-graduate plans carefully, especially those aimed at graduate study where cumulative debt is the relevant metric.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Nazareth University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $29,357 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $56,458 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 12 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 it has going for it: its 72.8% graduation rate. What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66 (median across the schools we score: 0.61).
Median debt of $26,038 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $39,500 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66. 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.
Nazareth University: Common Questions
Is Nazareth University worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Nazareth University scores 49/100 on our ROI scale. At $29,357 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $56,458 ten years after entry, so it takes about 12 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Nazareth 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 $29,357 a year, or roughly $117,428 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 Nazareth University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $56,458 ten years after enrolling, roughly $14,658 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 Nazareth 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 12 years for Nazareth University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Nazareth University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $26,038, against average earnings of $39,500 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66. 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 Nazareth University?
The six-year graduation rate is 72.8%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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.