Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Pace University #441 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $80,804, placing Pace University in the 86.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Pace University sits in the 92.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earn about $15,600 more than similar students at comparable institutions. Pace University's composite ranking reflects a consistent pattern of graduate earnings that outpace what similar students achieve at comparable institutions — a signal anchored in the university's business-focused program mix and New York City labor-market access. Median 4-year earnings and earnings beyond expectations together place Pace University among the stronger-performing private four-year institutions in the Azimuth coverage set for return on investment.
Azimuth ranks Pace University #441 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in New York, NY, Pace University enrolls roughly 7,665 undergraduates. Retention stands at 75.5% and the six-year graduation rate is 60.0%, reflecting solid degree-completion performance for an institution serving a broad mix of students in one of the country's most competitive urban labor markets. The composite is anchored by return on investment. Azimuth ranks Pace University #132 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median four-year earnings of $80,804, and earn about $15,600 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Pace University in the 92.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Business is the institution's primary program concentration, and its New York City location connects graduates directly to employer networks across finance, media, technology, and professional services. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Pace University admits about 75.9% of applicants, with 27.3% of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants and 29.4% identifying as first-generation college students — a profile that reflects meaningful access for lower-income students even within a private institutional context. Pace University sits in the 57.9 percentile for access and the 12.2 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, patterns shaped by private tuition pricing that, for many families, is substantially offset by need-based aid.
Pace University's published cost of attendance is $69,550. Net price by income band reflects the institution's need-based aid structure: low-income families pay approximately $26,473, families in the lower-middle range pay around $26,362, middle-income families pay about $28,467, upper-middle-income families pay approximately $31,219, and higher-income families pay roughly $36,430. Azimuth ranks Pace University #1251 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. Pace University meets demonstrated financial need for admitted students through a combination of need-based grants, merit scholarships, loans, and work-study. Families apply for aid using the FAFSA and CSS Profile. The institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Financial aid packages typically combine institutional grants with federal and private loan options. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $23,250, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $46,275; 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 $80,804, 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.
Pace University is a strong fit for students drawn to business, finance, and applied professional fields who want a private nonprofit university experience in New York, NY, and who are weighing long-term financial outcomes against the cost of attending a private institution in one of the country's most competitive labor markets. The earnings case is grounded in real data. Graduates earn median $80,804 four years after enrollment, placing Pace University in the 86.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Pace University also sits in the 92.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — graduates earn about $15,600 more than similar students at comparable institutions, a meaningful signal for students evaluating whether the investment pays off relative to similar institutions. The access picture matters here. 27.3% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 29.4% are first-generation students, and Pace University sits in the 92.5 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions on a historical 10-year Scorecard measure — suggesting the institution delivers meaningful outcomes for students from lower-income backgrounds, not just those who arrive with financial advantages. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix is concentrated in Business and adjacent professional fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes. Families should also weigh median student debt of $23,250 against the earnings trajectory — the New York labor market offers real upside, but the debt load warrants careful planning.
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 Pace 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.
Pace University's published cost of attendance is $69,550. Net price by income band reflects the institution's need-based aid structure: low-income families pay approximately $26,473, families in the lower-middle range pay around $26,362, middle-income families pay about $28,467, upper-middle-income families pay approximately $31,219, and higher-income families pay roughly $36,430.
Azimuth ranks Pace University #1251 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.
Pace University meets demonstrated financial need for admitted students through a combination of need-based grants, merit scholarships, loans, and work-study. Families apply for aid using the FAFSA and CSS Profile.
The institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Financial aid packages typically combine institutional grants with federal and private loan options.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $23,250, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $46,275; 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 $80,804, 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 Pace University earn median 4-year earnings of $80,804, placing Pace University in the 86.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs above the $67,139 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).
Graduates earn about $15,600 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Pace University in the 92.9 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Pace University #132 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The earnings pattern at Pace University is anchored in Business and related professional fields. Nursing stands out as the program combining the largest graduate cohort with strong four-year earnings, making it a key driver of the institution's overall return profile.
The Nursing, the highest-earning program, program graduates 234 students with median earnings of $115,695 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks it #37 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/). Finance and Communication and Media Studies also contribute meaningfully to the institution's return story, with graduates in those fields earning $92,271 and $69,876 respectively four years after enrollment.
Program mix skews toward Business (24% of graduates), followed by Arts (14%) and Social Sciences (6%), a concentration that aligns with Pace University's position in the NY labor market and helps explain the institution's above-average earnings relative to peers.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
College Of The Holy Cross Similar quality tier in Northeast (#10904 ranked) | MA | 18% | $90,543 | #10904 | Compare |
Dominican University Similar quality tier (#10929 ranked) | IL | 90% | $60,327 | #10929 | Compare |
Manhattan University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#10932 ranked) | NY | 79% | $86,316 | #10932 | Compare |
Florida Institute Of Technology Similar quality tier (#10936 ranked) | FL | 40% | $43,137 | #10936 | Compare |
Mcphs University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#11976 ranked) | MA | 85% | $125,557 | #11976 | Compare |
Computer Science
63 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
234 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
95 graduates
Finance and Financial Management Services
124 graduates
Business/Commerce, General
39 graduates
Pace University's program mix is anchored in business and applied professional fields — a signature well matched to its location in New York City and its identity as a career-oriented private university. Business-related programs form the dominant concentration, with Business accounting for 24% of graduates, followed by Arts at 14% and Social Sciences at 6%.
Across 45 programs serving roughly 1,882 students annually, 22 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold. Nursing stands out as the program combining the broadest enrollment scale with strong four-year earnings, making it the institution's primary economic driver among degree programs.
Azimuth ranks Computer Science #69 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning median earnings of $117,835 — the highest four-year figure at the institution. Azimuth ranks Nursing #37 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning median earnings of $115,695, and Azimuth ranks Accounting #32 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning median earnings of $100,797.
The most popular programs — Nursing (234 graduates), Finance (124 graduates), and Communication and Media Studies (115 graduates) — reflect the institution's applied-business and professional orientation, with graduates earning median earnings of $115,695, $92,271, and $69,876 respectively four years after enrollment. The institution's program portfolio divides broadly into two mobility types.
High-mobility, direct-to-workforce programs — including finance, accounting, and computer science — place graduates into New York City's financial-services and technology labor markets, where four-year earnings reflect competitive starting salaries; see [how Azimuth evaluates programs](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) for the ranking methodology. Health-science programs such as nursing represent a different pathway: graduates enter stable, in-demand roles with earnings that reflect local healthcare labor-market rates rather than the finance-sector ceiling.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Pace University's dominant program families align with national labor-market trends.
