Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Marymount Manhattan College #1457 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $12,402 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 15.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Marymount Manhattan College #1197 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions — reflecting outcomes that support graduates' transition into creative careers. --- Marymount Manhattan College's composite ranking reflects its balance of access and mobility outcomes for performing arts students in New York City. The institution's 19.1 percentile mobility ranking demonstrates how graduates translate creative training into sustainable career pathways.
Azimuth ranks Marymount Manhattan College #1457 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private baccalaureate college in New York, NY, Marymount Manhattan College enrolls roughly 1,577 undergraduates. Retention is 70.2% and the six-year graduation rate is 49.0%, reflecting solid persistence and completion outcomes for a specialized arts-focused institution. Marymount Manhattan College draws strength from its distinctive mission in visual and performing arts. The institution's dominant program family — Visual & Performing Arts — shapes both its student body and its economic outcomes. Azimuth ranks Marymount Manhattan College #1210 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $12,402 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Marymount Manhattan College in the 15.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Marymount Manhattan College sits in the 19.5 percentile for access and the 3.4 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls 28.4% Pell-eligible undergraduates and 22.6% first-generation students, reflecting a selective admissions posture typical of specialized arts colleges in high-cost urban markets. For students admitted to Marymount Manhattan College, the combination of arts-focused curriculum, New York City location, and demonstrated earnings outcomes creates a distinctive value proposition — particularly for students committed to creative careers where early earnings may be modest but long-term trajectory and network effects matter substantially.
Marymount Manhattan College's published cost of attendance is $65,767. Net price by income band reflects the institution's need-based aid structure: low-income families pay approximately $30,722, middle-income families pay around $32,459, and higher-income families pay approximately $42,217. Azimuth ranks Marymount Manhattan College #1377 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. Marymount Manhattan participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside institutional aid. The institution's aid structure is designed to close the gap between published cost and what families actually pay, though the affordability rank reflects both the headline sticker price and the debt load graduates carry. For families weighing affordability across multiple institutions, net price and sticker price can differ substantially — understanding both figures is essential to comparing true out-of-pocket costs. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,750, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $84,946; 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 $52,050, median federal debt of $25,750 projects to a monthly payment of about $291 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Marymount Manhattan College is a strong fit for students drawn to the visual and performing arts who want a small private college experience in New York City. Visual & Performing Arts represents 47% of graduates, anchoring the institution's creative identity. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $52,050, placing Marymount Manhattan College in the 11.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn about $12,402 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 15.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The college enrolls a meaningful share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 28.4% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 22.6% are first-generation. Published cost of attendance is $42,217, with median federal debt at graduation of $25,750. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 82.6% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors creative fields over technical ones. Students whose interests align with these areas will find strong outcomes in New York's arts ecosystem.
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 Marymount Manhattan College 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.
Marymount Manhattan College's published cost of attendance is $65,767. Net price by income band reflects the institution's need-based aid structure: low-income families pay approximately $30,722, middle-income families pay around $32,459, and higher-income families pay approximately $42,217.
Azimuth ranks Marymount Manhattan College #1377 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.
Marymount Manhattan participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside institutional aid. The institution's aid structure is designed to close the gap between published cost and what families actually pay, though the affordability rank reflects both the headline sticker price and the debt load graduates carry.
For families weighing affordability across multiple institutions, [net price and sticker price can differ substantially](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) — understanding both figures is essential to comparing true out-of-pocket costs. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,750, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $84,946; 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 $52,050, median federal debt of $25,750 projects to a monthly payment of about $291 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 Marymount Manhattan College earn median 4-year earnings of $52,050, placing the institution in the 11.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $12,402 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Marymount Manhattan College in the 15.5 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Marymount Manhattan College #1210 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Marymount Manhattan College's concentration in Visual & Performing Arts.
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft is the largest program with 99 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $40,086, at 1.0× the national benchmark for the field. The Communication and Media Studies program graduates 50 students with median 4-year earnings of $62,844, and Dance graduates 37 with median 4-year earnings of $38,227.
Together, these programs anchor the institution's economic profile and reflect the strong labor-market demand for graduates in creative and performance-based fields.
Communication and Media Studies
50 graduates
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
18 graduates
Psychology, General
19 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
17 graduates
Marketing
11 graduates
Marymount Manhattan College's program mix is anchored in visual and performing arts, reflecting the institution's identity as a specialized arts college in Manhattan. Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft is the largest program with 99 graduates, followed by Communication and Media Studies, Dance, Psychology, General, and Film/Video and Photographic Arts.
Across 18 total programs, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, with strength concentrated in creative and performance-oriented fields. The earnings pattern reflects the specialized nature of arts-focused education.
Communication and Media Studies leads with median earnings of $62,844 four years after enrollment, followed by Film/Video and Photographic Arts at $55,285, Psychology, General at $55,226, Business Administration at $51,287, and Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at $40,086. The program portfolio emphasizes creative disciplines where early-career earnings reflect entry into creative industries, freelance work, and emerging-career pathways rather than traditional corporate salary tracks.
Many of Marymount Manhattan College's programs are high-mobility pathways where graduates enter creative and cultural industries directly — including performance, design, and media production fields — where earnings trajectories often accelerate as careers mature and professional networks deepen. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how creative-industry fields align with labor-market demand and career-progression patterns in arts and media sectors.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ringling College Of Art And Design Similar quality tier (#36259 ranked) | FL | 70% | $43,325 | #36259 | Compare |
Johnson University Similar quality tier (#36256 ranked) | TN | 65% | $40,596 | #36256 | Compare |
Columbia International University Similar quality tier (#36264 ranked) | SC | 94% | $38,951 | #36264 | Compare |
Moore College Of Art And Design Similar quality tier in Northeast (#36255 ranked) | PA | 56% | $37,839 | #36255 | Compare |
Bard College Similar quality tier in Northeast (#36265 ranked) | NY | 52% | $46,543 | #36265 | Compare |
