Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Utica University #575 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $16,083 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Utica University in the 93.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Utica University sits in the 85.4 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Utica University's composite ranking reflects balanced performance across Azimuth's pillars of return, access, and mobility. The institution earns about $16,083 more than similar students at comparable institutions contributes meaningfully to its overall value proposition among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Utica University #575 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in Utica, NY, Utica University enrolls roughly 2,278 undergraduates. Retention is 70.7% and the six-year graduation rate is 56.2%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a master's-level institution. Where Utica University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Utica University #217 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $16,083 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Utica University in the 93.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This strength reflects the institution's concentration in Health fields, which tend to deliver strong early-career earnings and stable career pathways. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Utica University sits in the 42.1 percentile for access and the 56.8 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. 33.4% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 31.6% are first-generation college students, reflecting a student population with meaningful financial need. Mobility outcomes sit in the 14.5 percentile, indicating that low-income graduates and first-generation students achieve outcomes broadly aligned with peer institutions in the private nonprofit sector.
Utica University's published cost of attendance is $37,205. Net price by income band shows how financial aid reshapes that headline figure: low-income families pay approximately $13,290, middle-income families pay around $16,439, and higher-income families pay approximately $26,685. Azimuth ranks Utica University #616 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. Utica University participates in federal need-based aid programs (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and institutional aid. Families apply using the FAFSA to determine eligibility for need-based scholarships and grants. The gap between published cost and net price reflects the institution's commitment to need-based financial aid, though the affordability rank indicates that post-graduation debt service remains a meaningful consideration relative to peer institutions. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $22,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $25,500; 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 $77,491, median federal debt of $22,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $254 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Utica University is a strong fit for students who want a private university experience in Utica, NY. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $77,491, placing Utica University in the 85.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $16,083 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 93.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The aid structure is need-based. Published cost of attendance is $26,685, and 33.4% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. The Pell completion rate is 49.1%, reflecting outcomes for this cohort. Fit depends on realistic filters: the 92.0% admit rate makes the application process selective. Students who can navigate the application process will find strong earnings trajectories and aid packages.
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 Utica 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.
Utica University's published cost of attendance is $37,205. Net price by income band shows how financial aid reshapes that headline figure: low-income families pay approximately $13,290, middle-income families pay around $16,439, and higher-income families pay approximately $26,685.
Azimuth ranks Utica University #616 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.
Utica University participates in federal need-based aid programs (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and institutional aid. Families apply using the FAFSA to determine eligibility for need-based scholarships and grants.
The gap between published cost and net price reflects the institution's commitment to need-based financial aid, though the affordability rank indicates that post-graduation debt service remains a meaningful consideration relative to peer institutions. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $22,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $25,500; 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 $77,491, median federal debt of $22,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $254 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 Utica University earn median 4-year earnings of $77,491, placing the institution in the 85.8th percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $16,083 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Utica University in the 93.4th percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Utica University #217 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 85.4th percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures represent meaningful lifetime returns relative to NY's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $32,204 (the state median earnings of working adults age 25–34 with only a high school credential).
The earnings pattern reflects Utica University's focus on Health fields, which account for 9% of degrees. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing is the largest program with 267 graduates earning median earnings of $94,981 — 1.1× the national CIP-4 benchmark for the field. The Homeland Security program graduates 99 students with median earnings of $82,733, and Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General program graduates 85 students with median earnings of $62,369. Together, these programs anchor the institution's earnings profile.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
267 graduates
Homeland Security
99 graduates
Criminal Justice and Corrections
53 graduates
Construction Management
36 graduates
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
85 graduates
Utica University's program mix is anchored in health professions and applied clinical fields, reflecting its focus as a private health sciences university. Nursing is the largest program with 267 graduates annually, followed by Homeland Security, Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General, Criminal Justice, and Construction Management.
The earnings pattern reflects the strength of clinical and applied health fields. Nursing graduates earn median four-year earnings of $94,981, while Homeland Security graduates earn $82,733.
Criminal Justice delivers median earnings of $69,898, and Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General graduates earn $62,369. These outcomes highlight the labor-market positioning of health professions, where graduates enter stable, in-demand roles.
Several programs serve as direct-to-workforce pathways where four-year earnings reflect immediate labor-market outcomes, particularly in nursing and allied health fields. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how health professions align with national labor-market demand.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wilberforce University Similar quality tier (#15557 ranked) | OH | 41% | $38,298 | #15557 | Compare |
Mercy College Of Ohio Similar quality tier (#15570 ranked) | OH | 93% | $65,409 | #15570 | Compare |
St Catherine University Similar quality tier (#15574 ranked) | MN | 92% | $59,282 | #15574 | Compare |
Neumann University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#15577 ranked) | PA | 81% | $57,817 | #15577 | Compare |
Bradley University Similar quality tier (#15578 ranked) | IL | 77% | $66,852 | #15578 | Compare |
