Niagara University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Niagara University, New York. It enrolls 2,653 students (a mid-sized 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.
Strong
73/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes74
Value68
Affordability50
Selectivity41
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 87.4%, Niagara University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
87.4%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1060 – 1235
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
22 – 28
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 Niagara University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↓
3.9 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Niagara 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 $17,248 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$17,248
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
27%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
55%
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
$39,345
Room & Board (on-campus)
$13,400
Room & Board (off-campus)
$9,550
Books & Supplies
$510
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,700
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,850
Total Cost of Attendance
$51,632
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
$9,564
$30,001 – $48,000
$11,510
$48,001 – $75,000
$17,322
$75,001 – $110,000
$20,355
Over $110,000
$22,990
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
$11,19925%percentile
$25,475Medianpercentile
$28,50075%percentile
$31,73390%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 $20,125
↓ $5,350
No Pell $20,312
↓ $5,163
Dependent students $20,484
↓ $4,991
Independent students $20,312
↓ $5,163
Female students $20,312
↓ $5,163
Male students $20,291
↓ $5,184
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,500, less than completers ($25,475), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
66% of full-time students who enrolled at Niagara University graduate within six years, and 81% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
66%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
81%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Niagara University earn a median of $56,196 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$56,196
Earning > $25K
82%
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
$42,100
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$50,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$40,900
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$44,300
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$47,300
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $8,700, about 17% 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 ↑
14.9 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 87% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Niagara University is home to 2,653 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
2,653
Part-Time
2%
First-Generation
24%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 55.5%1,471
International 25.1%667
Black 6.9%183
Hispanic 6.1%162
Other 3.0%80
Asian 1.9%50
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Niagara University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbNiagara University, New York
Housing
Mostly residential1,442 beds on campus
Adult Learners
11%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Niagara University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
61 distinct programs across
20 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 Niagara University is 10:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
10:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$202M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$85,665
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
191 instructional faculty across 5 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
42
22%
$104,219
Associate Professors
66
35%
$87,889
Assistant Professors
42
22%
$82,777
Instructors
6
3%
$74,494
No Rank
35
18%
$64,586
Pros & Cons of Niagara University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Niagara University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Above-average graduation rate
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
No clear weaknesses in the data.
Best for:
Based on the data, Niagara University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Niagara University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Niagara University.
Is Niagara University hard to get into?
Niagara University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 87.4%.
What is the acceptance rate at Niagara University?
Niagara University has an acceptance rate of 87.4%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Niagara University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Niagara University scored between 1060 and 1235 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 Niagara University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Niagara University scored between 22 and 28 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Niagara University cost?
The average net price after aid at Niagara University is $17,248 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Niagara University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $56,196 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $17,248 per year. That's roughly 3.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Niagara University known for?
Niagara University is best known for its programs in Education, General, Educational Administration, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Niagara University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Niagara University are $56,196, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Niagara University accredited?
Yes. Niagara University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Niagara University?
Niagara University enrolls 2,653 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Niagara University?
Niagara University graduates 66% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Niagara University a public or private college?
Niagara University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Niagara University located?
Niagara University is located in Niagara University, New York.
What programs does Niagara University offer?
Niagara University offers 61 distinct programs. The most popular include Education, General, Educational Administration, Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Niagara University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Niagara University is 10:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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Do Selective Schools Actually Graduate More Students?
Across 1,645 four-year colleges, graduation rates climb steadily with selectivity, from 54% at open-admission schools to 93% at the most exclusive. The gap is real.
Graduation rate
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Completion
College outcomes
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For-profit colleges post the highest median net price of any sector and the lowest graduate earnings. They cost more than private nonprofits and pay less than publics.
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Rankings That Feature Niagara University
Niagara University appears in these rankings, built from the same federal data and the UCD Score.
Best Accounting Colleges in New York
The top Accounting colleges in New York, ranked by UCD Score on outcomes, value, and net price.
93 UCD Score
111 Colleges
$2,984 Lowest Net
$89,696 Top Earn
Best Business Administration Colleges in New York
The top Business Administration colleges in New York, ranked by UCD Score on outcomes, value, and net price.
96 UCD Score
140 Colleges
$3,033 Lowest Net
$104,043 Top Earn
Best Nursing Colleges in New York
The top Nursing colleges in New York, ranked by UCD Score on outcomes, value, and net price.
88 UCD Score
110 Colleges
$2,984 Lowest Net
$102,491 Top Earn
Best Teacher Education Colleges in New York
The top Teacher Education colleges in New York, ranked by UCD Score on outcomes, value, and net price.
86 UCD Score
72 Colleges
$2,984 Lowest Net
$89,696 Top Earn
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