Duquesne University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It enrolls 5,350 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
62/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes82
Value19
Affordability12
Selectivity55
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 83.6%, Duquesne University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
83.6%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1180 – 1340
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
26 – 32
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Duquesne University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
4.5 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Duquesne University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $37,730 per year. That's above the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$37,730
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
20%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
67%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$48,986
Room & Board (on-campus)
$16,374
Room & Board (off-campus)
$23,660
Books & Supplies
$1,440
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,047
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$7,077
Total Cost of Attendance
$67,776
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$29,986
$30,001 – $48,000
$31,729
$48,001 – $75,000
$32,102
$75,001 – $110,000
$35,611
Over $110,000
$41,273
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,50010%percentile
$12,50025%percentile
$26,244Medianpercentile
$28,00075%percentile
$33,25090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $25,500
↓ $744
No Pell $23,000
↓ $3,244
Dependent students $24,684
↓ $1,560
Independent students $12,500
↓ $13,744
Female students $24,899
↓ $1,345
Male students $22,750
↓ $3,494
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,250, less than completers ($26,244), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
78% of full-time students who enrolled at Duquesne University graduate within six years, and 85% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
78%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
85%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Duquesne University earn a median of $74,742 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$74,742
Earning > $25K
89%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$65,200
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$72,900
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$67,800
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$64,900
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$69,900
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $7,700, about 11% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
7.3 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 93% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Duquesne University is home to 5,350 students, a large student community.
Total Enrolled
5,350
Part-Time
1%
First-Generation
17%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 77.1%4,125
Hispanic 5.7%304
Black 5.6%301
Other 3.9%206
Asian 3.5%186
International 3.1%168
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Duquesne University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Housing
Mostly residential3,552 beds on campus
Adult Learners
2%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Duquesne University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
119 distinct programs across
23 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Duquesne University is 12:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$767M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$90,009
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
456 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
88
19%
$117,011
Associate Professors
193
42%
$91,625
Assistant Professors
150
33%
$75,600
Instructors
25
5%
$67,910
Pros & Cons of Duquesne University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Duquesne University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Strong six-year graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Above-average post-graduation earnings
CONS
High net price compared to most US colleges
High published cost of attendance before aid
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Most students take on federal loans
Best for:
Based on the data, Duquesne University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions about Duquesne University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Duquesne University.
Is Duquesne University hard to get into?
Duquesne University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 83.6%.
What is the acceptance rate at Duquesne University?
Duquesne University has an acceptance rate of 83.6%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Duquesne University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Duquesne University scored between 1180 and 1340 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Duquesne University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Duquesne University scored between 26 and 32 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Duquesne University cost?
The average net price after aid at Duquesne University is $37,730 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Duquesne University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $74,742 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $37,730 per year. That's roughly 2.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Duquesne University known for?
Duquesne University is best known for its programs in Nursing, Law, Pharmacy. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Duquesne University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Duquesne University are $74,742, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Duquesne University accredited?
Yes. Duquesne University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Duquesne University?
Duquesne University enrolls 5,350 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Duquesne University?
Duquesne University graduates 78% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Duquesne University a public or private college?
Duquesne University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Duquesne University located?
Duquesne University is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
What programs does Duquesne University offer?
Duquesne University offers 119 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Law, Pharmacy.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Duquesne University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Duquesne University is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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