Students at D'Youville University achieve exceptionally strong earnings outcomes that place the institution among the top performers nationally for long-term financial returns.
The university's specialized focus on health professions creates direct pathways to well-compensated careers, with graduates consistently earning more than expected compared with peers at similar institutions.
D'Youville University is a small private nonprofit institution in Buffalo, New York, that specializes in health professions and delivers exceptionally strong earnings outcomes for its graduates. The university ranks in the 88th percentile nationally for long-term earnings, reflecting its focused mission and direct career preparation in high-demand fields. With about 36% of students receiving Pell Grants and 27% being first-generation college students, D'Youville provides meaningful access while maintaining strong financial outcomes.
Graduates earn a median of $66,942 ten years after enrollment, with many programs leading directly into stable, well-compensated healthcare careers. The university's specialized focus on nursing, allied health, and therapy programs creates clear pathways from classroom to career, supported by clinical partnerships and hands-on training that employers value. As a designated "Mobility Engine," D'Youville combines solid access for students from diverse backgrounds with outcomes that consistently exceed expectations.
What distinguishes D'Youville is its ability to deliver strong returns on investment through specialized programming rather than broad academic offerings. The university's small size allows for personalized attention and close faculty mentorship, while its health professions focus ensures graduates enter fields with strong job security and earning potential. For students who know they want to pursue healthcare careers, D'Youville offers a direct path with proven financial results.
D'Youville University's program portfolio centers on health professions that lead directly to stable, well-compensated careers. Adult Health Nursing dominates with 170 graduates earning a median of $66,897, representing both the university's largest program and its strongest aggregate return. This concentration reflects the consistent demand for registered nurses and the career advancement opportunities available in healthcare systems throughout the region.
The university's specialized allied health programs command premium earnings, with Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment Professions graduates earning approximately $92,277 early in their careers. This reflects the high value that healthcare employers place on specialized diagnostic and treatment skills, particularly in an era of advancing medical technology and complex patient care needs.
Even D'Youville's more unique programs, such as Animal-Assisted Therapy with 28 graduates earning $56,641, demonstrate the university's ability to create viable career pathways in emerging healthcare specialties. The university's small size allows it to offer specialized programs that larger institutions might not support, while maintaining the clinical partnerships and hands-on training that make graduates immediately valuable to employers. This focused approach to health professions education explains why D'Youville consistently delivers strong earnings outcomes across its program portfolio.
D'Youville University graduates achieve strong long-term earnings that place the institution in the 88th percentile nationally. Ten years after enrollment, graduates earn a median of $66,942, with many seeing steady career progression in healthcare fields that offer both job security and competitive compensation. The university also delivers earnings beyond expectations, with graduates earning about $4,526 more than similar students at other institutions, reflecting the value of D'Youville's specialized health professions focus.
The strongest financial outcomes come from the university's core health programs. Adult Health Nursing, the largest program with 170 graduates, produces median earnings of $66,897 and represents the highest aggregate return among all majors. Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment Professions graduates earn approximately $92,277 early in their careers, demonstrating the premium that specialized healthcare skills command in the job market. Animal-Assisted Therapy, while smaller with 28 graduates, still delivers solid earnings of $56,641, showing that even D'Youville's more specialized programs lead to viable career outcomes.
The university's concentrated focus on health professions creates a clear advantage for students who know their career direction. Rather than offering hundreds of majors with varying outcomes, D'Youville channels students into fields with consistent employer demand and strong earning potential. This specialization, combined with clinical training and professional partnerships, helps explain why graduates consistently outperform earnings expectations compared with students at more generalist institutions.
D'Youville University's affordability varies significantly by family income, with the strongest value proposition for low-income students. Families earning under $30,000 annually pay about $12,286 in net price, which is competitive for a private institution focused on health professions. Middle-income families see net costs around $21,460, while higher-income families pay approximately $26,150 annually. These price points reflect the university's commitment to making specialized health education accessible across income levels.
The university's financial aid approach helps manage upfront costs, though students should expect to borrow for their education. Typical graduates leave with about $25,000 in federal student loan debt, a manageable level given the strong earnings outcomes in healthcare fields. Parent PLUS borrowing averages $21,550, which represents additional family investment but remains within reasonable bounds for families pursuing professional healthcare education.
What makes D'Youville's costs sustainable is the direct connection between education and career outcomes. Students aren't paying private tuition for general education—they're investing in specialized training that leads directly to well-compensated healthcare careers. The university's loan repayment rates are strong, with about 66% of borrowers successfully paying down their balances, and the default rate is exceptionally low at just 0.1%, indicating that graduates can comfortably service their educational debt.
D'youville University Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
