Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Manhattan University #428 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $88,328, placing Manhattan University in the 88.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and Manhattan University sits in the 94.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Manhattan University #101 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Students at Manhattan University earn meaningfully more than similar students at comparable institutions, a pattern driven in large part by the university's engineering-led program mix and its location in the New York metropolitan labor market. The institution's return on investment ranking reflects strong graduate earnings relative to cost — a combination that positions Manhattan University favorably among private four-year universities of comparable size and mission.
Azimuth ranks Manhattan University #428 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in Riverdale, NY, Manhattan University enrolls roughly 2,744 undergraduates. Freshman retention runs at 76.0% and the six-year graduation rate is 63.7%, reflecting solid degree-completion outcomes for a master's-level institution. Where Manhattan University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Manhattan University #101 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median four-year earnings of $88,328, and they earn about $17,232 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Manhattan University in the 94.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's concentration in Engineering — a field with strong employer demand in the New York metro labor market — helps drive these outcomes. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Manhattan University admits about 78.9% of applicants, and 36.0% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants, with 25.4% identifying as first-generation college students. Affordability sits in the 12.5 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting the cost structure typical of private nonprofit institutions in high-cost metro areas. Access sits in the 57.8 percentile and mobility in the 52.9 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, underscoring that the institution's composite strength is anchored in graduate earnings rather than breadth of low-income enrollment.
Manhattan University's published cost of attendance is $64,348. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation across the income spectrum: low-income families pay approximately $27,281, lower-middle-income families pay around $23,097, middle-income families pay about $28,454, upper-middle-income families pay approximately $26,808, and higher-income families pay around $28,188. Azimuth ranks Manhattan University #1247 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. Manhattan University meets demonstrated financial need for admitted students through a combination of need-based scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study. The financial aid process begins with the FAFSA and CSS Profile, and families should review the institution's financial aid page for current aid policies and application deadlines. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $56,630; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at Manhattan University's median four-year earnings of $88,328, median federal debt of $26,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $294 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Manhattan University is a strong fit for students drawn to engineering, applied sciences, and professional programs who want a private university experience in the New York City area with a clear path to competitive post-graduation earnings. The earnings case is grounded in outcomes. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $88,328, placing Manhattan University in the 88.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Manhattan University also sits in the 94.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — graduates earn about $17,232 more than similar students at comparable institutions, a meaningful signal for students weighing the return on a private university investment. Access is real but selective. 36.0% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 25.4% are first-generation students, with a completion rate for Pell-eligible students of 67.3%. Manhattan University sits in the 93.0 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions on a historical 10-year Scorecard measure, suggesting that students from lower-income backgrounds who complete their degree tend to reach competitive earnings outcomes. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix is concentrated in Engineering and related applied fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes, and the net price for higher-income families runs to $28,188, which means families who cannot access need-based aid should weigh median debt of $26,000 against expected earnings carefully before enrolling.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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This is the Manhattan University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Manhattan University's published cost of attendance is $64,348. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation across the income spectrum: low-income families pay approximately $27,281, lower-middle-income families pay around $23,097, middle-income families pay about $28,454, upper-middle-income families pay approximately $26,808, and higher-income families pay around $28,188.
Azimuth ranks Manhattan University #1247 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.
Manhattan University meets demonstrated financial need for admitted students through a combination of need-based scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study. The financial aid process begins with the FAFSA and CSS Profile, and families should review the institution's [financial aid page](https://www.manhattan.edu/admissions/financial-aid) for current aid policies and application deadlines.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $56,630; 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 Manhattan University's median four-year earnings of $88,328, median federal debt of $26,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $294 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 Manhattan University earn median 4-year earnings of $88,328, placing Manhattan University in the 88.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $17,232 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Manhattan University in the 94.0 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Manhattan University #101 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That performance runs notably above the $67,139 median at comparable institutions, reflecting the strong labor-market alignment of Manhattan University's program mix in NY.
The earnings pattern at Manhattan University is anchored by Engineering, which drives a disproportionate share of the institution's graduate outcomes. Civil Engineering stands out as the program combining the broadest cohort scale with the strongest earnings, making it a central contributor to the institution's overall return profile.
The Civil Engineering program graduates 99 students with median 4-year earnings of $95,877, and Azimuth ranks the program #22 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). Mechanical Engineering and Digital Marketing follow as additional high-return programs, with 59 and 50 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $92,802 and $78,423, respectively — Azimuth ranks Mechanical Engineering #198 and Digital Marketing #133 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Fields such as Finance and Communication and Media Studies round out the program lineup, each contributing meaningful graduate cohorts and earnings that compare favorably against the $32,204 earnings baseline for NY residents without a college degree.
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
19 graduates
Finance and Financial Management Services
45 graduates
Chemical Engineering
25 graduates
Civil Engineering
99 graduates
Mechanical Engineering
59 graduates
Manhattan University's program mix is anchored in engineering, business, and applied sciences — a signature well suited to the New York metropolitan labor market. The dominant program family is Engineering, which shapes both the institution's earnings profile and its employer relationships across the region.
Across 30 programs serving roughly 751 students annually, the university concentrates degree output in fields with direct workforce pathways, with Engineering accounting for 28% of graduates, Business for 24%, and Social Sciences for 8%. The program with the strongest combination of cohort scale and earnings is Civil Engineering, which functions as a key economic driver for the institution by pairing meaningful graduate volume with competitive four-year pay.
Among the highest-earning programs, Finance program graduates 45 students with median earnings of $100,376 four years after enrollment — Azimuth ranks it #70 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering also deliver strong early-career outcomes, with graduates earning $95,877 and $92,802 respectively four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks Civil Engineering #22 and Mechanical Engineering #198 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The most popular programs by graduate volume — Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Digital Marketing — reflect the institution's applied and professional orientation. The Civil Engineering program graduates 99 students with median earnings of $95,877 four years after enrollment, and the The Mechanical Engineering program graduates 59 students earning $92,802.
These are largely high-mobility, direct-to-workforce pathways where four-year earnings reflect genuine labor-market outcomes rather than an undercount from graduate-school continuation. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Manhattan University's dominant engineering and business program families align with current hiring demand across the New York region.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Florida Institute Of Technology Similar quality tier (#10936 ranked) | FL | 40% | $43,137 | #10936 | Compare |
Dominican University Similar quality tier (#10929 ranked) | IL | 90% | $60,327 | #10929 | Compare |
Pace University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#10918 ranked) | NY | 76% | $70,378 | #10918 | Compare |
Mcphs University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#11976 ranked) | MA | 85% | $125,557 | #11976 | Compare |
Grinnell College Similar quality tier (#10915 ranked) | IA | 15% | $62,830 | #10915 | Compare |
