University of Scranton
Scranton, Pennsylvania · Private Nonprofit · 81.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 75/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of Scranton (Scranton, PA) scores 75 (Strong Value) - a solid result for a Jesuit private university charging $53,983 sticker tuition. The 79.8% completion rate and 84.9% repayment rate are genuine strengths. Nursing and Kinesiology lead on ROI; Accounting and Finance produce strong B-grade outcomes. Biology, Philosophy, and Criminal Justice show D-grade outcomes; Neurosciences hits F. The overall profile shows a school where professional programs perform well and liberal arts deliver mixed-to-weak financial returns.
University of Scranton scores in the top 19% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
University of Scranton
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $53,983/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $53,983/yr |
| Average net price | $32,568/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $130,272 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $74,652 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $47,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 6.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 79.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 3,554 |
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: $53,983/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $32,568/year, or roughly $130,272 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 $23,896/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $39,348/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $27,000, 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 ($47,400) and comes to 0.57, 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 | $23,896 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $23,407 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $23,912 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $29,482 |
| $110,001+ | $39,348 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Low-income families (under $30,000) pay $23,896 per year - roughly $96,000 over four years. Nursing and accounting students who complete will recover this cost within a reasonable timeline. Most other programs at this price point represent a difficult financial proposition for low-income families.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-75,000 bracket pays $23,912 and the $75,001-110,000 bracket pays $29,482 per year. Middle-income families at Scranton face net prices close to the institutional average of $32,568. The 6.8-year payback period assumes successful completion in professional programs; the payback extends considerably in lower-earning fields.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning over $110,000 pay $39,348 per year - about $157,000 over four years. Against $47,400 average earnings, the financial case depends entirely on program. Accounting and nursing graduates will have strong financial returns; liberal arts and social science students will have extended payback periods at this price.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Scranton with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $105,353 | B+ |
| Finance and Financial Management | $100,962 | C+ |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $79,700 | B+ |
| Biology | $64,774 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $80,611 | C+ |
| Accounting | $93,677 | B |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $63,483 | D |
| Philosophy | $63,410 | D |
| Psychology | $54,088 | D |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $25,057 | F |
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 (80 graduates) earns $82,895 at year one and $105,353 at year four with a B+ grade and 0.326 debt-to-earnings ratio. At $27,000 median debt and Scranton's net price, nursing is the clearest financial case at the school.
Accounting
Accounting (43 graduates) earns $70,453 at year one and $93,677 at year four with a B grade and 0.383 debt-to-earnings ratio. Scranton's accounting program feeds into Philadelphia and New York City public accounting firms, and year-one earnings of $70,453 are strong for a northeastern PA private university. The four-year trajectory to $93,677 reflects promotions and CPA track advancement.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance (72 graduates) earns $56,978 at year one and $100,962 at year four with a C+ grade and 0.474 debt-to-earnings ratio. The four-year jump from $57k to $101k is large, likely reflecting graduates who enter financial services firms in New York or Philadelphia with strong career progression.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology (66 graduates) shows $79,700 at year four with a B+ grade and 0.339 debt-to-earnings ratio. This is a notably strong outcome for a kinesiology program - the figure likely reflects graduates in physical therapy, occupational therapy, or physician assistant programs affecting the cohort's four-year earnings. Year-one data is unavailable.
Psychology
Psychology (34 graduates) earns $33,290 at year one and $54,088 at year four with a D grade and 0.785 debt-to-earnings ratio. Year-one earnings of $33,290 at a private school charging $32,568 net price per year leave no financial margin. Students who plan to proceed to graduate programs after psychology should factor those costs into total educational debt.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 83.3% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 84.9% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 85.7% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 88.2% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Scranton’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 | 81.2% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 570-658 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 590-660 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 25-30 |
| Enrollment | 3,554 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 24.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,510 |
The Jesuit identity shapes curriculum expectations - students will encounter philosophy and ethics requirements regardless of major. Net price comparison across this set is essential.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Scranton (this school) | 75 | $32,568 | $74,652 |
| The Catholic University of America | 77 | $29,561 | $73,250 |
| Bradley University | 75 | $22,719 | $66,852 |
| New York Institute of Technology | 73 | $22,443 | $70,080 |
| Albright College | 56 | $20,024 | $58,700 |
| Bryn Athyn College of the New Church | 34 | $20,586 | $40,457 |
Who Thrives Here
Scranton admits 81.2% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 570-658 Math and 590-660 Reading, ACT 25-30 composite. At 3,554 undergraduates with a 24.1% Pell grant rate, the school draws from northeastern PA, New Jersey, and the New York metro area. Students committed to nursing, accounting, or business will find programs that justify the private school cost. Pre-health students intending medical school should be aware that biology produces D-grade near-term earnings - manageable if graduate training follows, but a real cost.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, University of Scranton pays off. You'd pay about $32,568 a year after aid ($130,272 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $74,652 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 6.8 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: its 79.8% graduation rate, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $27,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $47,400 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.57, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
University of Scranton: Common Questions
Is University of Scranton worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students University of Scranton pays off. It scores 75/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $32,568 a year after aid ($130,272 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $74,652 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 6.8 years to earn back.
How much does University of Scranton 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 $32,568 a year, or roughly $130,272 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 University of Scranton graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $74,652 ten years after enrolling, roughly $32,852 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 University of Scranton?
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 6.8 years for University of Scranton. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of Scranton graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $27,000, against average earnings of $47,400 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.57. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at University of Scranton?
The six-year graduation rate is 79.8%, 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.
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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.