Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Suffolk University #678 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn in the 92.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Suffolk University sits in the 84.2 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Suffolk University's composite ranking reflects strong financial outcomes for graduates, anchored by its position in the 84.2 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $15,214 more than similar students at comparable institutions, demonstrating the institution's ability to support students toward durable financial success.
Suffolk University is a private doctoral/professional university located in Boston, Massachusetts, enrolling approximately 4,268 undergraduates. Azimuth ranks Suffolk University #678 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university maintains a 75.4% freshman retention rate and a 60.9% six-year graduation rate, reflecting solid student persistence through degree completion. Suffolk University performs strongest on return on investment. Azimuth ranks Suffolk University #235 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $74,456, and Suffolk University sits in the 92.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance reflects the university's concentration in Business, a field that consistently delivers strong early-career financial outcomes and aligns well with Boston's regional labor market. Access and affordability represent the composite's lower-ranked pillars. Suffolk University sits in the 50.5 percentile for access and the 11.9 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting the institution's position as a private university with selective admissions and higher sticker pricing. Mobility outcomes sit in the 49.1 percentile, indicating that while graduates achieve solid earnings, the institution's access to low-income students remains more limited than at broad-access public peers. For students who gain admission and can manage the cost of attendance, Suffolk University delivers measurable financial returns through its business-focused curriculum and urban location.
Suffolk University's published cost of attendance is $65,281. Financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $24,745, families in the lower-middle income band pay around $25,711, middle-income families pay about $25,702, families in the upper-middle income band pay approximately $29,654, and higher-income families pay roughly $36,264. Azimuth ranks Suffolk University #1256 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. Suffolk University's aid structure combines need-based and merit-based components. Families apply using the FAFSA, and the university participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. The gap between sticker price and net price reflects the institution's commitment to need-based aid, though the spread across income bands shows that affordability varies meaningfully by family circumstances. Merit scholarships are also available and can reduce net price further for qualifying students. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,889, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $38,234; 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 $74,456, median federal debt of $26,889 projects to a monthly payment of about $304 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Suffolk University is a strong fit for students interested in business and related fields who want a private university experience in Boston, MA. Its urban location and program mix make it particularly well-suited for students seeking professional preparation in a major city. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $74,456, placing Suffolk University in the 74.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $15,214 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 92.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university enrolls students from a range of backgrounds, with 29.9% of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants and 29.7% being first-generation students. This access is balanced by a 82.3% admission rate, making the application process selective but not exclusive. Fit depends on alignment with Business programs, which account for 39% of degrees. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings that compare favorably to MA's no-degree baseline of $37,113.
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 Suffolk University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Finance and Financial Management Services
114 graduates
Information Science/Studies
38 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
63 graduates
Political Science and Government
62 graduates
Marketing
121 graduates
Suffolk University's program mix is anchored in business and professional fields, reflecting its identity as an urban institution in Boston. Digital Marketing is the largest program with 121 graduates, followed by Finance, Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication, Business Administration, and Non-Professional Legal Studies.
Across 29 total programs, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, with particular strength in business and finance-adjacent fields. The highest-earning programs cluster in business and accounting disciplines.
Finance graduates earn a median $90,090 four years after enrollment, while Accounting graduates earn $86,396 and Political Science graduates earn $73,484. Digital Marketing and Business Administration round out the top earners at $71,855 and $71,855 respectively.
These outcomes reflect Suffolk University's positioning as a professional-focused institution where graduates enter stable, direct-to-workforce career pathways in accounting, finance, and business administration. The program portfolio emphasizes applied business and professional credentials over research-intensive or grad-school-dependent fields.
This concentration in high-mobility career pathways—where graduates enter the labor market directly rather than pursuing advanced degrees—aligns with the institution's mission to prepare students for immediate professional impact in the Boston region and beyond.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rockhurst University Similar quality tier (#15742 ranked) | MO | 70% | $67,102 | #15742 | Compare |
Fairfield University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#15743 ranked) | CT | 33% | $88,794 | #15743 | Compare |
University Of Redlands Similar quality tier (#15726 ranked) | CA | 83% | $72,690 | #15726 | Compare |
Clarkson University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#15720 ranked) | NY | 77% | $89,696 | #15720 | Compare |
St. Joseph's University-New York Similar quality tier in Northeast (#15767 ranked) | NY | 72% | $63,905 | #15767 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Suffolk University's published cost of attendance is $65,281. Financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $24,745, families in the lower-middle income band pay around $25,711, middle-income families pay about $25,702, families in the upper-middle income band pay approximately $29,654, and higher-income families pay roughly $36,264.
Azimuth ranks Suffolk University #1256 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.
Suffolk University's aid structure combines need-based and merit-based components. Families apply using the FAFSA, and the university participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs.
The gap between sticker price and net price reflects the institution's commitment to need-based aid, though the spread across income bands shows that affordability varies meaningfully by family circumstances. Merit scholarships are also available and can reduce net price further for qualifying students.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,889, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $38,234; 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 $74,456, median federal debt of $26,889 projects to a monthly payment of about $304 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 Suffolk University earn median 4-year earnings of $74,456, placing Suffolk University in the 74.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $15,214 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Suffolk University in the 92.6 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Suffolk University #235 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Suffolk University's program portfolio is anchored in business and professional fields.
Digital Marketing is the largest program with 121 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $71,855, performing at 1.0× the national benchmark for the field. The Finance program graduates 114 students with median 4-year earnings of $90,090, while Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication and Business Administration round out the top programs with 96 and 93 graduates respectively, earning $66,709 and $71,855.
The concentration in Business — representing 39% of degrees — reflects the institution's focus on career-ready, professionally oriented fields that connect directly to Boston's financial services, consulting, and business sectors.
