Fitchburg State University

Fitchburg State University's published cost of attendance is $25,555. Net price by income band reveals how financial aid reshapes that headline figure: low-income families pay approximately $10,204, middle-income families pay around $11,540, and higher-income families pay approximately $21,123.

Azimuth ranks Fitchburg State University #401 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.

Fitchburg State's public tuition structure and need-based aid reach make it accessible across income levels. The institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs to help close the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay.

Many students qualify for need-based scholarships that reduce their out-of-pocket costs substantially. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $24,239, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $16,500; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.

For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $63,994, median federal debt of $24,239 projects to a monthly payment of about $274 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).

Graduates of Fitchburg State University earn median 4-year earnings of $63,994, placing the institution in the 63.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. This figure runs below the $56,249 median at comparable institutions.

Graduates earn about $2,260 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Fitchburg State University in the 67.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures represent lifetime returns relative to MA's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $37,113 (the state median earnings of working adults with only a high school credential).

Azimuth ranks Fitchburg State University #714 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern centers on health and human services fields, which align with Fitchburg State University's dominant program family.

Nursing is the largest program with 155 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $92,187, representing 1.0× the national benchmark for the field. The Business Administration program graduates 101 students with median 4-year earnings of $64,528, and Criminal Justice delivers median 4-year earnings of $62,396 for 75 graduates.

Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies rounds out the top programs with 48 graduates earning $50,089. These outcomes reflect the institution's concentration in fields with stable, in-demand career pathways and consistent employer recruitment across the region.

Fitchburg State University's program mix is anchored in health sciences and applied professional fields, reflecting the institution's regional mission as a comprehensive public university serving the Massachusetts workforce. Nursing is the largest program with 155 graduates annually, followed by Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Film/Video and Photographic Arts, and Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies.

Across 0 ranked programs, the institution's strength concentrates in health-related and business-focused fields, with Arts representing 13% of graduates. The highest-earning programs reflect direct-to-workforce pathways where graduates enter stable, in-demand sectors immediately after completion.

Nursing leads with median earnings of $92,187 four years after enrollment across 155 graduates, followed by Biology, General with earnings of $65,991 and Business Administration with earnings of $64,528. These outcomes reflect the institution's positioning in healthcare and applied-professional fields where employer demand remains consistent and career pathways are clearly defined from graduation forward.

Fitchburg State University's program portfolio aligns with regional labor-market demand in healthcare, education, and business administration—sectors where the institution's graduates find stable employment and predictable earnings trajectories. The concentration in Health fields reflects both institutional mission and workforce need in the New England region.

The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these dominant program families align with current and projected labor-market conditions.