Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Rockhurst University #621 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $8,602 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Rockhurst University in the 83.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Rockhurst University #231 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Azimuth ranks Rockhurst University #621 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting a balance of access, affordability, and strong graduate outcomes. Graduates earn about $8,602 more than similar students at comparable institutions, a pattern that spans the institution's program mix and supports durable financial outcomes.
Azimuth ranks Rockhurst University #621 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private master's university in Kansas City, Missouri, Rockhurst University enrolls roughly 1,580 undergraduates. Retention stands at 79.1% and the six-year graduation rate is 74.6%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a regional institution. Where Rockhurst University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Rockhurst University #231 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $8,602 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Rockhurst University in the 83.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance reflects the institution's concentration in Health fields, where employer demand and career pathways support strong early-career outcomes and sustained earnings growth. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Rockhurst University sits in the 12.4 percentile for access and the 43.8 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting a higher sticker price typical of private master's institutions and a more selective admissions profile. Mobility outcomes rank in the 55.6 percentile, indicating that while graduates achieve solid earnings, the institution enrolls a smaller share of low-income and first-generation students compared with broad-access peers. For families seeking a health-focused education with strong return on investment in a regional setting, Rockhurst University offers a coherent value proposition anchored in program-specific earnings strength.
Rockhurst University's published cost of attendance is $59,898. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $22,797, middle-income families pay around $21,997, and higher-income families pay approximately $30,348. Azimuth ranks Rockhurst University #802 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. Rockhurst's affordability profile reflects a mid-sized private institution with need-based aid distributed across the student body. The university participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA; merit aid availability and specific aid-package composition vary by student profile and should be confirmed directly with the admissions office. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $18,250, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $26,074; 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 $76,125, median federal debt of $18,250 projects to a monthly payment of about $206 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Rockhurst University is a strong fit for students interested in health professions who want a private university experience in Kansas City, MO. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $76,125, placing Rockhurst University in the 75.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn about $8,602 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 83.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university enrolls 20.1% of undergraduates as Pell recipients and 20.6% as first-generation students. Published cost of attendance is $30,348, with median federal debt at graduation of $18,250. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the Health focus (11% of degrees) and the 69.6% admit rate. Students whose interests align with health fields will find strong outcomes in this regional context.
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
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This is the Rockhurst University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
252 graduates
Economics
6 graduates
Biology, General
39 graduates
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
19 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
57 graduates
Rockhurst University's program mix is anchored in health professions and applied professional fields — a portfolio aligned with the institution's Health focus. Nursing is the largest program with 252 graduates, followed by Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General, Business Administration, Biology, General, and Psychology, General.
The institution's program portfolio spans 19 distinct programs, with 0 meeting Azimuth's ranking threshold. Median earnings four years after enrollment vary meaningfully across the institution's strongest programs.
Nursing graduates earn $79,817 with 252 graduates, while Biology, General graduates earn $70,354. Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services delivers median earnings of $69,747 with 19 graduates, and Business Administration reaches $65,696.
Psychology, General rounds out the highest-earning programs with 33 graduates earning $59,160. The concentration in Business (representing 11% of graduates), other STEM fields (representing 4%), and Engineering (representing 3%) reflects Rockhurst University's positioning as a health-and-professional-focused private institution in a major Midwest market.
Many of these programs are direct-to-workforce pathways where graduates enter stable, in-demand careers immediately after completion. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how the institution's dominant program families align with regional and national labor-market demand.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Saint Mary Higher acceptance rate (20.8 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 25 miles away; similar graduate earnings | KS | 90% | $59,483 | Compare |
Baker University Higher acceptance rate (23.1 percentage points higher) and located 37 miles away; similar graduate earnings | KS | 92% | $63,855 | Compare |
University Of Kansas Higher acceptance rate (19.1 percentage points higher) and located 37 miles away; similar graduate earnings | KS | 88% | $61,945 | Compare |
The College Of Saint Scholastica Higher acceptance rate (24.7 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | MN | 94% | $65,934 | Compare |
Kettering College Higher acceptance rate (13.8 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | OH | 83% | $67,492 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Suffolk University Similar quality tier (#15737 ranked) | MA | 82% | $67,506 | #15737 | Compare |
University Of Redlands Similar quality tier (#15726 ranked) | CA | 83% | $72,690 | #15726 | Compare |
St. Joseph's University-New York Similar quality tier (#15767 ranked) | NY | 72% | $63,905 | #15767 | Compare |
Clarkson University Similar quality tier (#15720 ranked) | NY | 77% | $89,696 | #15720 | Compare |
Simmons University Similar quality tier (#15715 ranked) | MA | 70% | $63,494 | #15715 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Rockhurst University's published cost of attendance is $59,898. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $22,797, middle-income families pay around $21,997, and higher-income families pay approximately $30,348.
Azimuth ranks Rockhurst University #802 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.
Rockhurst's affordability profile reflects a mid-sized private institution with need-based aid distributed across the student body. The university participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs.
Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA; merit aid availability and specific aid-package composition vary by student profile and should be confirmed directly with the admissions office. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $18,250, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $26,074; 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 $76,125, median federal debt of $18,250 projects to a monthly payment of about $206 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 Rockhurst University earn median 4-year earnings of $76,125, placing Rockhurst University in the 75.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $8,602 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Rockhurst University in the 83.8 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Rockhurst University #231 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Rockhurst University's concentration in health-related fields.
Nursing is the largest program with 252 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $79,817, representing 0.9× the national benchmark for the field. Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General and Business Administration follow as substantial programs, with Business Administration graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $65,696 and performing at 1.0× the national benchmark.
Biology, General and Psychology, General round out the top five, with Biology, General graduates earning $70,354 and Psychology, General graduates earning $59,160. This program mix — anchored in Health — supports stable, in-demand career pathways that align with regional labor-market strength in healthcare and related professional services.
