Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Marshall University #380 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Marshall University sits in the 60.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions. Azimuth ranks Marshall University #141 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Marshall University's composite standing reflects a combination of earnings that outpace what similar students achieve elsewhere and a post-graduation affordability profile that compares favorably across the Azimuth coverage set. Graduates earn median 13.8 percentile earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, grounding the institution's earnings-beyond-expectations advantage in concrete labor-market outcomes for students from Huntington and across West Virginia.
Azimuth ranks Marshall University #380 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Huntington, WV, Marshall University enrolls roughly 7,266 undergraduates. Freshman retention stands at 72.2% and the six-year graduation rate is 51.2%, figures that reflect the university's ability to move students through to degree completion at rates consistent with its peer group. The composite is anchored by what Marshall University delivers for its students relative to expectations. Graduates earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing Marshall University in the 60.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — the university moves its graduates into careers that pay more than comparable institutions achieve with similar students. Business is the dominant program family, and the institution's return on investment rank reflects a program mix oriented toward fields with direct labor-market demand. Azimuth ranks Marshall University #970 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Access and affordability shape the fuller picture. 38.7% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 37.4% are first-generation college students, reflecting a student body drawn substantially from families with limited prior college experience — a population Marshall University serves at meaningful scale. Marshall University sits in the 67.2 percentile for access and the 90.2 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, with mobility outcomes in the 78.8 percentile — a composite profile that rewards students who prioritize career-relevant programs and manageable debt over brand recognition.
Marshall University's published cost of attendance is $22,022. Net price by income band reflects the institution's public-tuition structure and need-based aid reach: low-income families pay approximately $4,648, middle-income families pay around $6,837, and higher-income families pay approximately $15,076. Azimuth ranks Marshall University #141 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. Marshall University's aid structure is need-based, with financial aid distributed through federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional programs. The gap between published cost and net price reflects how institutional aid reshapes affordability across income levels — a pattern worth understanding when comparing sticker price to actual family cost, as net price and sticker price can differ substantially. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $23,250, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $13,944; 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 $54,141, median federal debt of $23,250 projects to a monthly payment of about $263 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Marshall University is a public university in Huntington, WV, well suited to students drawn to Business and applied professional fields who want a regionally grounded education with manageable costs and a clear path to employment in the South. The earnings case is straightforward. Graduates earn median $54,141 four years after enrollment, placing Marshall University in the 13.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and graduates earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing Marshall University in the 60.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The access profile is broad. 38.7% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 37.4% are first-generation students, and Marshall University sits in the 32.1 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions on a historical 10-year Scorecard measure — a signal that students from lower-income backgrounds have found a workable path to solid outcomes here. Median student debt at graduation is $23,250, which keeps post-graduation financial obligations relatively contained for most borrowers. Fit depends on two realistic considerations: the program portfolio centers on Business and related applied fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes, and the institution draws primarily from the regional labor market, which suits students who plan to build careers in WV or the surrounding South.
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 Marshall 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.
Marshall University's published cost of attendance is $22,022. Net price by income band reflects the institution's public-tuition structure and need-based aid reach: low-income families pay approximately $4,648, middle-income families pay around $6,837, and higher-income families pay approximately $15,076.
Azimuth ranks Marshall University #141 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.
Marshall University's aid structure is need-based, with financial aid distributed through federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional programs. The gap between published cost and net price reflects how institutional aid reshapes affordability across income levels — a pattern worth understanding when comparing sticker price to actual family cost, as [net price and sticker price can differ substantially](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/).
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $23,250, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $13,944; 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 $54,141, median federal debt of $23,250 projects to a monthly payment of about $263 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 Marshall University earn median 4-year earnings of $54,141, placing Marshall University in the 13.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing Marshall University in the 60.3 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Marshall University #970 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures represent meaningful returns relative to WV's no-degree earnings baseline of $30,928, the state median earnings of working adults with only a high school credential.
The earnings pattern at Marshall University is anchored in Business and a set of applied professional fields. General Studies stands out as the program combining broad enrollment with strong graduate pay, making it a key driver of the institution's overall return profile.
The General Studies program graduates 171 students with median earnings of $43,714 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks the program #95 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 0.8x the national benchmark for the field. Nursing and Psychology, General round out the higher-earning tier, with 92 and 88 graduates earning $77,609 and $45,309 respectively four years after enrollment — Azimuth ranks Nursing #275 and Psychology, General #193 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Biology, General, with 86 graduates earning $44,836, reflects the institution's reach into health and public-service fields that anchor WV's regional labor market.
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
14 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
92 graduates
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
10 graduates
Engineering, General
12 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
38 graduates
Marshall University's program mix is anchored in Business, with meaningful enrollment across health, education, and applied professional fields — a portfolio shaped by the university's regional public identity in Huntington, West Virginia. The three largest families by graduate volume are Business (19% of graduates), Education (6%), and Arts (3%), reflecting a curriculum oriented toward stable, locally relevant career pathways.
Across 46 programs, 27 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, serving roughly 1,438 graduates annually. The program with the strongest combination of scale and earnings is General Studies, which anchors Marshall University's financial outcomes by pairing meaningful cohort size with competitive four-year median earnings.
Among the highest-earning programs, Nursing leads with median earnings of $77,609 four years after enrollment — Azimuth ranks Nursing #275 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Criminal Justice follows with median earnings of $49,559, ranked #157 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions by Azimuth.
Kinesiology graduates earn $47,581, with Azimuth ranking the program #189 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. By enrollment, General Studies is the largest program with 171 graduates, followed by Business/Commerce, General (154 graduates) and Nursing (92 graduates).
These high-enrollment programs reflect the applied, workforce-oriented character of Marshall University's degree mix. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these program families align with regional and national labor-market demand.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Wisconsin-Platteville Similar quality tier (#15167 ranked) | WI | 89% | $61,760 | #15167 | Compare |
Austin Peay State University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#15168 ranked) | TN | 96% | $44,301 | #15168 | Compare |
Salem State University Similar quality tier (#15171 ranked) | MA | 96% | $56,662 | #15171 | Compare |
University Of Houston-Victoria Similar quality tier (#15161 ranked) | TX | 96% | $54,467 | #15161 | Compare |
Radford University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#15157 ranked) | VA | 90% | $53,739 | #15157 | Compare |
