Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Marquette University #448 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $80,228, placing Marquette University in the 86.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Marquette University sits in the 84.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates outperforming similar students at comparable institutions. Graduates at Marquette University earn strong median earnings four years after enrollment and earn about $8,845 more than similar students at comparable institutions, reflecting the university's business-led program mix and Milwaukee labor-market reach. Azimuth's composite ranking places Marquette University among the stronger-performing private four-year institutions for overall value, anchored by its return on investment standing and earnings outcomes relative to peer institutions.
Azimuth ranks Marquette University #448 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in Milwaukee, WI, Marquette University enrolls roughly 7,660 undergraduates. Retention stands at 91.0% and the six-year graduation rate is 83.2%, reflecting a strong record of converting enrollment into degree completion. Where Marquette University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Marquette University #114 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median four-year earnings of $80,228, and earn about $8,845 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Marquette University in the 84.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The dominant program family is Business, which anchors much of the institution's earnings profile and employer reach in the Milwaukee regional market and beyond. Access and affordability provide important context for the composite position. Marquette University admits about 81.3% of applicants, a selectivity level that shapes the size and composition of each entering class — 18.4% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 19.3% are first-generation college students. Affordability sits in the 10.5 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, and access sits in the 33.9 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting the interplay between a private-institution price point and the financial aid reach the university extends to lower-income families. Mobility sits in the 78.5 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Marquette University's published cost of attendance is $66,768, but need-based aid reshapes that figure across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $22,269; middle-income families pay around $27,378; higher-income families pay approximately $36,813. Azimuth ranks Marquette University #1276 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. Marquette participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA and CSS Profile. The aid structure combines need-based scholarships with work-study opportunities as part of the aid package. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $23,940, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $45,500; 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 the institution's median four-year earnings of $80,228, median federal debt of $23,940 projects to a monthly payment of about $270 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Marquette University is a strong fit for students drawn to business, professional, and applied fields who want a private research university experience in Milwaukee, WI, and who are looking for a clear path from degree to career without sacrificing long-term earnings potential. Graduates earn in the 86.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and Marquette University sits in the 84.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — graduates earn about $8,845 more than similar students at comparable institutions, a signal that the degree translates into real financial returns relative to what students' backgrounds would predict at comparable institutions. The aid structure matters for access. 18.4% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 19.3% are first-generation students — meaningful shares for a private nonprofit university — and Marquette University sits in the 98.8 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 enroll and complete tend to see competitive long-term outcomes. Fit depends on two realistic filters: Marquette University admits about 81.3% of applicants, making it selective but not out of reach for well-prepared students, and its program mix is concentrated in Business and professional fields — students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes and employer networks.
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
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Marquette 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.
Marquette University's published cost of attendance is $66,768, but need-based aid reshapes that figure across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $22,269; middle-income families pay around $27,378; higher-income families pay approximately $36,813.
Azimuth ranks Marquette University #1276 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.
Marquette participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA and CSS Profile.
The aid structure combines need-based scholarships with work-study opportunities as part of the aid package. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $23,940, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $45,500; 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 $80,228, median federal debt of $23,940 projects to a monthly payment of about $270 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 Marquette University earn median 4-year earnings of $80,228, placing Marquette University in the 86.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $8,845 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Marquette University in the 84.1 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Marquette University #114 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That performance runs above the $67,139 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band), reflecting a program mix anchored in professional fields that connect directly to Milwaukee's regional labor market and to national employer networks.
The earnings pattern at Marquette University is shaped by its concentration in Business and adjacent professional disciplines. Business accounts for 26% of degrees, with Engineering and Social Sciences contributing 11% and 11% respectively — a mix that tilts toward fields with strong early-career hiring demand.
Biology, General stands out as the program combining the largest graduate cohort with strong median earnings, making it a key driver of the institution's overall return profile. Biology, General, with 253 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $88,921, is ranked #3 nationally 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/), at 1.6x the national benchmark for the field.
Finance and Nursing — with graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $97,719 and $88,069 respectively — round out the higher-earning tier, while Psychology, General and Digital Marketing reflect the institution's breadth across applied and professional fields.
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
26 graduates
International Business
16 graduates
Real Estate
46 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
77 graduates
Computer and Information Sciences, General
67 graduates
Marquette University's program mix is anchored in Business, with meaningful concentrations in Business, Engineering, and Social Sciences — a portfolio shaped by the university's Jesuit professional-education identity in Milwaukee. The highest aggregate-return program is Biology, General, which combines strong cohort scale with competitive four-year earnings, making it a central driver of the institution's overall financial outcomes.
Across 55 programs serving roughly 2,449 graduates annually, 32 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold among nonprofit four-year institutions. The strongest national rankings cluster in applied-business and finance-adjacent fields.
Finance leads on earnings, with graduates earning median earnings of $97,719 four years after enrollment; Azimuth ranks the program #37 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, per the [how Azimuth evaluates programs](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) methodology. Mechanical Engineering follows, with graduates earning median earnings of $93,764 and Azimuth ranking the program #129 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Biology, General and Nursing round out the high-earnings tier, with graduates earning median earnings of $88,921 and $88,069, respectively — both reflecting the institution's depth in professional and quantitative business disciplines. The most popular programs by graduate volume — Biology, General, Finance, and Nursing — enroll the largest cohorts and feed directly into Milwaukee's finance, healthcare, and professional-services labor markets.
These are high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the workforce directly and four-year earnings reflect real labor-market outcomes. Psychology, General and Digital Marketing serve students on more varied trajectories, including some who continue to graduate or professional study, where four-year earnings undercount longer-run financial outcomes.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) framework provides context for how Marquette University's dominant program families align with national labor-market demand.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mcphs University Similar quality tier (#11976 ranked) | MA | 85% | $125,557 | #11976 | Compare |
University Of San Diego Similar quality tier (#13033 ranked) | CA | 52% | $86,522 | #13033 | Compare |
Florida Institute Of Technology Similar quality tier (#10936 ranked) | FL | 40% | $43,137 | #10936 | Compare |
Manhattan University Similar quality tier (#10932 ranked) | NY | 79% | $86,316 | #10932 | Compare |
Dominican University Similar quality tier in Midwest (#10929 ranked) | IL | 90% | $60,327 | #10929 | Compare |
