Suffolk University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Boston, Massachusetts. It enrolls 4,268 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.
AccreditorNew England 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
59/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes51
Value32
Affordability29
Selectivity52
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 82.3%, Suffolk University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
82.3%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1090 – 1300
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
24 – 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 Suffolk University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
1.1 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Suffolk 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 $29,618 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$29,618
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
30%
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
$47,550
Room & Board (on-campus)
$21,326
Room & Board (off-campus)
$26,992
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,854
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,586
Total Cost of Attendance
$65,281
Application fee: $50 (one-time, due at submission)
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
$24,745
$30,001 – $48,000
$25,711
$48,001 – $75,000
$25,702
$75,001 – $110,000
$29,654
Over $110,000
$36,264
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
$8,28625%percentile
$26,889Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$34,80490%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 $23,000
↓ $3,889
No Pell $19,440
↓ $7,449
Dependent students $20,000
↓ $6,889
Independent students $25,000
↓ $1,889
Female students $20,500
↓ $6,389
Male students $20,500
↓ $6,389
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,750, less than completers ($26,889), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
62% of full-time students who enrolled at Suffolk University graduate within six years, and 75% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
62%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
75%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Suffolk University earn a median of $67,506 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$67,506
Earning > $25K
81%
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
$55,400
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$66,200
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$58,200
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$61,700
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$59,600
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $10,800, about 16% 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 ↑
12.7 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 85% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Suffolk University is home to 4,268 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
4,268
Part-Time
2%
First-Generation
30%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 49.4%2,109
Hispanic 15.9%680
International 11.9%508
Black 9.7%414
Asian 8.1%344
Other 3.2%135
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Suffolk University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityBoston, Massachusetts
Housing
Partly residential1,440 beds available
Adult Learners
4%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Suffolk University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
76 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 Suffolk University is 15:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
15:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$312M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$117,037
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
317 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
85
27%
$149,090
Associate Professors
108
34%
$116,011
Assistant Professors
58
18%
$109,901
Instructors
66
21%
$83,706
Pros & Cons of Suffolk University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Suffolk University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Above-average post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
Modest first-year retention
High published cost of attendance before aid
Best for:
Based on the data, Suffolk 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 Suffolk University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Suffolk University.
Is Suffolk University hard to get into?
Suffolk University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 82.3%.
What is the acceptance rate at Suffolk University?
Suffolk University has an acceptance rate of 82.3%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Suffolk University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Suffolk University scored between 1090 and 1300 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 Suffolk University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Suffolk University scored between 24 and 28 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Suffolk University cost?
The average net price after aid at Suffolk University is $29,618 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Suffolk University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $67,506 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $29,618 per year. That's roughly 2.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Suffolk University known for?
Suffolk University is best known for its programs in Law, Management Sciences, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Suffolk University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Suffolk University are $67,506, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Suffolk University accredited?
Yes. Suffolk University is accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Suffolk University?
Suffolk University enrolls 4,268 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Suffolk University?
Suffolk University graduates 62% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Suffolk University a public or private college?
Suffolk University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Suffolk University located?
Suffolk University is located in Boston, Massachusetts.
What programs does Suffolk University offer?
Suffolk University offers 76 distinct programs. The most popular include Law, Management Sciences, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Suffolk University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Suffolk University is 15:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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