Wagner College
Staten Island, New York · Private Nonprofit · 88.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 76/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Wagner College scores 76 (Strong Value) on the CampusROI scale - notable for a private institution with $53,200 in sticker tuition. The 6.4-year payback period against $48,300 in average 6-year earnings is driven primarily by two high-earning health programs. Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment (31 graduates, $129,269 year-one, ROI grade A) and Registered Nursing (115 graduates, $108,746 year-one, ROI grade A) are exceptional earners that significantly elevate the institutional median. The net price of $28,241 and median debt of $25,000 produce a 0.518 debt-to-earnings ratio. Drama/Theatre Arts (42 graduates, $17,478 year-one, ROI grade F) is the starkest contrast in the program mix. Business Administration (50 graduates, $50,079 year-one, ROI grade C+) and Psychology (23 graduates, ROI grade C+) fill the middle tier. Wagner's Staten Island location provides genuine NYC job market access for health graduates.
Wagner College scores in the top 17% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
Wagner College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $53,200/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $53,200/yr |
| Average net price | $28,241/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $112,964 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $74,360 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $48,300 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $265 |
| Estimated payback period | 6.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 65.1% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,651 |
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: $53,200/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $28,241/year, or roughly $112,964 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 $20,993/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $32,604/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $25,000, which works out to about $265 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($48,300) and comes to 0.52, 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 | $20,993 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $21,944 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $24,930 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $28,217 |
| $110,001+ | $32,604 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 bracket pays $20,993 per year at Wagner. Four-year cost around $83,900 against $48,300 average 6-year earnings and a 6.4-year payback is acceptable for health sciences students. For theatre or arts students at this price point and income level, the financial risk is substantial. Low-income students should be enrolled in nursing or allied health to make the financial case for Wagner.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $24,930, and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $28,217. Health sciences students at these income levels have a defensible financial case.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $32,604 per year. Health program families have the strongest case at full pay; theatre families should evaluate whether Wagner's NYC connections and program reputation justify this cost over less expensive theatre programs.
Earnings by Major
Top 7 most popular majors at Wagner College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $113,728 | A |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $80,927 | C+ |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $39,664 | F |
| Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment | $156,982 | A |
| Psychology | $58,724 | C+ |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management | $65,373 | D |
| Sociology | $67,061 | - |
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.
Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment
Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment is Wagner's top-earning program: 31 graduates, $129,269 year-one, $156,982 at year four, ROI grade A, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.209 with $27,000 median debt. Year-one earnings above $129k and a four-year trajectory above $156k are exceptional. This program likely includes physician assistant, diagnostic imaging, or similar high-demand clinical specialties. The A grade reflects strong earnings against debt. The 31-graduate sample provides moderate statistical confidence.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing is Wagner's highest-volume strong program: 115 graduates, $108,746 year-one, $113,728 at year four, ROI grade A, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.248 with $27,000 median debt. NYC-area nursing wages are high, and $108k year-one reflects that market. Median debt is $27,000. Wagner's Staten Island location places nurses directly in the NYC healthcare market.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration produces 50 graduates with $50,079 year-one and $80,927 at year four, C+ ROI grade, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.539 with $27,000 median debt. The four-year trajectory to $80k reflects NYC labor market access for business graduates. Year-one earnings of $50k against $27,000 in debt at a private school is a marginal but workable outcome.
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Drama/Theatre Arts enrolls 42 graduates - Wagner's second-largest cohort - with an F ROI grade: $17,478 year-one, $39,664 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.545 with $27,000 median debt. Year-one earnings below $18k against $27,000 in debt is a financially severe outcome. Wagner is a recognized theatre program with NYC proximity, and theatre students are generally aware they are entering a financially difficult field. The data confirms that awareness. Students choosing theatre at Wagner must have non-financial reasons and financial support beyond wages to manage the debt.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 77.6% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 82.7% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 84.1% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 88.2% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Wagner College’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 | 88.0% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 590-630 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 600-660 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 23-28 |
| Enrollment | 1,651 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 23.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,122 |
Wagner admits 88% of applicants. SAT 590-630 Math and 600-660 Reading is a moderate academic bar. ACT 23-28 composite is the equivalent range. Most qualified applicants gain admission. The institution filters on fit with its liberal arts and experiential learning culture more than on academic selectivity.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
The theatre program is Wagner's distinctive asset that attracts non-health students at financial cost the data reflects accurately.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wagner College (this school) | 76 | $28,241 | $74,360 |
| Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | 94 | $29,882 | $131,426 |
| Assumption University | 77 | $29,498 | $74,895 |
| Adelphi University | 75 | $30,783 | $75,482 |
| The College of Saint Scholastica | 74 | $27,846 | $65,934 |
| Bethel University | 71 | $28,556 | $63,764 |
Who Thrives Here
Wagner College admits 88% of applicants. SAT mid-ranges are 590-630 Math and 600-660 Reading; ACT composite 23-28. Enrollment is 1,651. The Pell grant rate of 23.9% reflects a largely middle-income student body. Wagner is a liberal arts college with particular strength in theatre and health sciences. Students pursuing nursing or allied health will find strong career outcomes. Students enrolling for theatre or performing arts must understand that the Scorecard data documents an F-grade ROI at median earnings of $17,478 one year after graduation.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, Wagner College pays off. You'd pay about $28,241 a year after aid ($112,964 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $74,360 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 6.4 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $25,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $48,300 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.52, 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.
Wagner College: Common Questions
Is Wagner College worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Wagner College pays off. It scores 76/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $28,241 a year after aid ($112,964 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $74,360 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 6.4 years to earn back.
How much does Wagner College 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 $28,241 a year, or roughly $112,964 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 Wagner College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $74,360 ten years after enrolling, roughly $32,560 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 Wagner College?
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 6.4 years for Wagner College. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Wagner College graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,000, against average earnings of $48,300 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.52. 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 Wagner College?
The six-year graduation rate is 65.1%, 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.