Niagara University
Niagara University, New York · Private Nonprofit · 87.4% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 61/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Niagara University scores 61 (Fair Value). The school charges $39,345 in tuition against a $17,248 average net price, and delivers $37,000 average 6-year earnings with a 9.9-year payback. The 74.5% completion rate is acceptable. Median debt of $25,475 with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.689 is a concern - graduates owe roughly two-thirds of a year's salary on day one. Nursing is Niagara's strongest program and the clearest ROI case. Most other programs produce C-grade or lower returns, and hospitality and political science lag significantly.
Niagara University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $39,345/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $39,345/yr |
| Average net price | $17,248/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $68,992 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $56,196 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $37,000 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,475 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $270 |
| Estimated payback period | 9.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 74.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,653 |
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: $39,345/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $17,248/year, or roughly $68,992 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 $9,564/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $22,990/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $25,475, which works out to about $270 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($37,000) and comes to 0.69, 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 | $9,564 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $11,510 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $17,322 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $20,355 |
| $110,001+ | $22,990 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $9,564 net per year - Niagara's most competitive aid tier, about $38,000 over four years. At $37,000 average earnings, payback is close to a decade but manageable for graduates who complete the degree. Nursing graduates dramatically improve this picture.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $17,322 net and the $75,001-$110,000 bracket pays $20,355. For middle-income families, the financial case weakens.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $22,990 net per year - about $92,000 over four years. The only program that clears this bar comfortably is nursing.
Earnings by Major
Top 9 most popular majors at Niagara University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $97,834 | B |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $65,154 | C+ |
| Political Science and Government | $60,995 | D |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $55,947 | C+ |
| Special Education and Teaching | $50,897 | C+ |
| Hospitality Administration | $31,790 | D |
| Marketing | $73,611 | B+ |
| Teacher Education | $48,037 | C+ |
| Accounting | $66,459 | B |
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.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is Niagara's largest and strongest program at 90 graduates, $72,470 year-one earnings, and $97,834 at year four. Debt-to-earnings of 0.373 (ROI grade B) with $27,000 median debt is manageable against strong nursing wages in the Buffalo healthcare market. The year-four trajectory to $97k reflects experienced RN wages in hospital systems. Nursing is the financial anchor of Niagara's profile.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (48 graduates) earns $53,531 at year one and $65,154 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.470 (ROI grade C+) and $25,146 median debt. Returns are mediocre for the cost structure.
Research and Experimental Psychology
Research and Experimental Psychology (34 graduates) earns $55,947 at year four (no year-one data), with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.476 (ROI grade C+) and $26,623 median debt. Psychology research roles require graduate degrees in most career paths; bachelor's-level psychology employment produces modest wages. The C+ grade reflects acceptable but not strong returns.
Political Science and Government
Political Science (45 graduates) earns $36,781 at year one with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.734 (ROI grade D) and $27,000 median debt. Entry-level political science employment in upstate New York typically leads to government, nonprofit, or legal-track careers with modest near-term wages. The payback period is long.
Hospitality Administration
Hospitality Administration (26 graduates) earns $31,790 at year one with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.849 (ROI grade D) and $27,000 median debt - the weakest ROI program at Niagara. Entry-level hospitality management wages are low and the Niagara Falls regional market offers limited upward mobility compared to major tourism destinations. Students entering this program need a clear plan for how they will service $27,000 in debt on starting hospitality wages.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 72.3% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 79.1% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 76.2% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 80.9% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Niagara 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 | 87.4% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 530-610 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 530-625 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 22-28 |
| Enrollment | 2,653 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 27.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,724 |
An 87.4% acceptance rate makes Niagara nearly open-access for qualified applicants. The SAT 530-610 Math range covers a wide spread.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Niagara's ROI is 61.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Niagara University (this school) | 61 | $17,248 | $56,196 |
| Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | 94 | $29,882 | $131,426 |
| Adelphi University | 75 | $30,783 | $75,482 |
| Robert Morris University | 63 | $23,003 | $62,105 |
| Point Loma Nazarene University | 62 | $38,729 | $63,998 |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus | 62 | $15,404 | $57,273 |
Who Thrives Here
Niagara admits 87.4% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 530-610 Math and 530-625 Reading, and ACT 22-28. The school is broadly accessible. The 27.2% Pell rate indicates a mixed-income student body drawing from the Buffalo/Niagara metro area. Niagara fits students who want a Catholic university experience within commuting distance of Buffalo, are targeting nursing or education, and can negotiate net price below $15,000.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Niagara University is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $17,248 a year after aid ($68,992 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $56,196 a decade out, the cost takes about 9.9 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: its 74.5% graduation rate. What to keep an eye on: a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69 (median across the schools we score: 0.61).
Median debt of $25,475 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $37,000 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69. 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.
Niagara University: Common Questions
Is Niagara University worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Niagara University is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 61/100 on our ROI scale. At $17,248 a year after aid ($68,992 over four years) against $56,196 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 9.9 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Niagara 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 $17,248 a year, or roughly $68,992 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 Niagara University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $56,196 ten years after enrolling, roughly $14,396 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 Niagara 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 9.9 years for Niagara University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Niagara University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,475, against average earnings of $37,000 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69. 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 Niagara University?
The six-year graduation rate is 74.5%, 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.
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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.