Robert Morris University
Moon Township, Pennsylvania · Private Nonprofit · 89.9% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 63/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Robert Morris University in Moon Township, Pennsylvania - a suburb west of Pittsburgh - scores ROI 63 (Fair Value) with 2,896 undergraduates. Average 6-year earnings reach $40,400, climbing to a median $62,105 at 10 years. The 8.6-year payback and 0.667 debt-to-earnings ratio put RMU in the workable-but-not-comfortable zone. Completion at 65.7% leaves room for concern: one in three students who enrolls does not graduate. Security Science and Technology is the top-earning program; Registered Nursing (55 graduates) and Engineering (62 graduates) are the strongest ROI anchors. RMU's location in the Pittsburgh metro provides access to a diversified economy - healthcare, technology, defense contracting, and finance - that benefits graduates in technical and health fields disproportionately. The school admits 89.9% of applicants and does not report SAT/ACT bands, suggesting a near-open enrollment posture at a private-school price.
Robert Morris University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $35,970/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $35,970/yr |
| Average net price | $23,003/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $92,012 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $62,105 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $40,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,950 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 8.6 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 65.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,896 |
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: $35,970/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $23,003/year, or roughly $92,012 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 $19,548/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $28,842/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $26,950, which works out to about $286 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($40,400) and comes to 0.67, 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 | $19,548 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $16,857 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $20,199 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $23,230 |
| $110,001+ | $28,842 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $19,548 per year - above the $23,003 average only in the second-lowest bracket, suggesting aid for lowest-income families is meaningful. Over four years that is $78,192. Against $40,400 in average 6-year earnings, low-income students need a high-earning major - nursing, engineering, or security science - to justify this cost. The 65.7% completion rate is a significant risk factor: low-income students who leave without a degree face a difficult financial position.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 30,001-48,000 bracket pays $16,857 - the lowest across all income bands, which is unusual. The 48,001-75,000 bracket rises to $20,199, and the 75,001-110,000 bracket climbs to $23,230. The cost slope through the middle range is moderate. Middle-income families get the best pricing here; the net price calculator is essential for families in the $30-75k band to understand their actual package.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $28,842 per year. Over four years that is roughly $115,368. Against 10-year earnings of $62,105, high-income families need at least an engineering or nursing graduate to see reasonable ROI within a normal career horizon. Marketing and psychology graduates at full cost deliver poor returns.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Robert Morris University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing | $64,349 | C |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $60,394 | C |
| Engineering, General | $86,444 | B |
| Registered Nursing | $81,212 | B |
| Accounting | $72,909 | C+ |
| Finance and Financial Management | $72,129 | C+ |
| Security Science and Technology | $90,206 | B |
| Psychology | $46,025 | D |
| Information Science | $82,989 | B |
| Biology | $50,182 | D |
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.
Security Science and Technology
Security Science is RMU's highest-earning program by 1-year earnings, with 36 graduates earning a median $69,872 at year one and $90,206 at year four. This program feeds into cybersecurity, intelligence, and corporate security roles - fields with persistent demand from Pittsburgh's defense contractor network, UPMC's security apparatus, and federal agencies. The 0.386 debt-to-earnings ratio (ROI grade B) with $27,000 median debt is healthy.
Engineering, General
The 0.425 debt-to-earnings ratio (ROI grade B) against $26,000 median debt is controlled.
Registered Nursing
With 55 graduates per year, Nursing is RMU's largest health program. Median 1-year earnings of $67,518 and 4-year earnings of $81,212 reflect the UPMC and Allegheny Health Network labor markets, which are the dominant healthcare employers in Pittsburgh. The 0.400 debt-to-earnings ratio (ROI grade B) with $27,000 median debt is on the edge of comfortable.
Accounting
Accounting sends 55 graduates per year into the workforce. The 0.451 debt-to-earnings ratio (ROI grade C+) is functional.
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 | 70.7% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 74.9% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Robert Morris 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 | 89.9% |
| Enrollment | 2,896 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 23.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $13,576 |
This school does not report admissions selectivity data (no SAT/ACT bands published in Scorecard). The 89.9% admission rate signals near-open enrollment. Students should not interpret high admission rates as a proxy for program quality - the relevant filter is program-level completion and earnings data, not selectivity.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
The security science and engineering programs lift RMU's earnings above what a pure business-and-liberal-arts mix would generate.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Morris University (this school) | 63 | $23,003 | $62,105 |
| Monmouth University | 63 | $30,988 | $67,991 |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus | 62 | $15,404 | $57,273 |
| Niagara University | 61 | $17,248 | $56,196 |
| Albright College | 56 | $20,024 | $58,700 |
| Bryn Athyn College of the New Church | 34 | $20,586 | $40,457 |
Who Thrives Here
Students entering nursing, security/cybersecurity, or engineering find the clearest pathways. With 23.3% Pell recipients, this is a primarily middle-income institution. The 65.7% completion rate is a real warning for undecided students. Students who come in with declared majors in technical or health fields have the best outcomes.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Robert Morris University is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $23,003 a year after aid ($92,012 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $62,105 a decade out, the cost takes about 8.6 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What to keep an eye on: a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.67 (median across the schools we score: 0.61).
Median debt of $26,950 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $40,400 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.67. 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.
Robert Morris University: Common Questions
Is Robert Morris University worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Robert Morris University is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 63/100 on our ROI scale. At $23,003 a year after aid ($92,012 over four years) against $62,105 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 8.6 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Robert Morris 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 $23,003 a year, or roughly $92,012 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 Robert Morris University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $62,105 ten years after enrolling, roughly $20,305 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 Robert Morris 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 8.6 years for Robert Morris University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Robert Morris University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $26,950, against average earnings of $40,400 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.67. 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 Robert Morris University?
The six-year graduation rate is 65.7%, 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.