Marist University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Poughkeepsie, New York. It enrolls 5,182 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
63/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes86
Value15
Affordability5
Selectivity79
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 56.5%, Marist University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
56.5%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1190 – 1340
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
25 – 31
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 Marist University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
15.5 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Marist 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 $41,544 per year. That's above the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$41,544
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
14%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
46%
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
$47,750
Room & Board (on-campus)
$18,460
Room & Board (off-campus)
$20,220
Books & Supplies
$2,425
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,220
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,785
Total Cost of Attendance
$67,574
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
$26,083
$30,001 – $48,000
$27,200
$48,001 – $75,000
$36,178
$75,001 – $110,000
$42,001
Over $110,000
$45,643
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
$12,00025%percentile
$25,000Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$34,00090%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 $22,500
↓ $2,500
No Pell $21,000
↓ $4,000
Dependent students $21,500
↓ $3,500
Independent students $22,000
↓ $3,000
Female students $22,000
↓ $3,000
Male students $20,620
↓ $4,380
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,000, less than completers ($25,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
79% of full-time students who enrolled at Marist University graduate within six years, and 88% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
79%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
88%
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 Marist University earn a median of $77,819 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$77,819
Earning > $25K
87%
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
$55,800
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$70,900
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$46,900
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$57,000
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$68,600
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $15,100, about 21% 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 ↑
12.1 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 94% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Marist University is home to 5,182 students, a large student community.
Total Enrolled
5,182
Part-Time
3%
First-Generation
19%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 71.6%3,712
Hispanic 14.3%740
Asian 3.9%204
Other 3.7%194
Black 3.4%177
International 2.1%108
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Marist University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbPoughkeepsie, New York
Housing
Mostly residential3,463 beds on campus
Adult Learners
2%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Marist University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
46 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 Marist University is 16:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
16:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$762M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$95,169
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
241 instructional faculty across 6 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
25
10%
$128,571
Associate Professors
63
26%
$108,289
Assistant Professors
49
20%
$91,493
Instructors
9
4%
$68,182
Lecturers
84
35%
$84,197
No Rank
11
5%
$66,360
Pros & Cons of Marist University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Marist University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Reasonable class sizes
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
Best for:
Based on the data, Marist University is a fit for
students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions about Marist University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Marist University.
Is Marist University hard to get into?
Admissions at Marist University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 56.5%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Marist University?
Marist University has an acceptance rate of 56.5%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Marist University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Marist University scored between 1190 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 Marist University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Marist University scored between 25 and 31 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Marist University cost?
The average net price after aid at Marist University is $41,544 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Marist University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $77,819 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $41,544 per year. That's roughly 1.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Marist University known for?
Marist University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Communication & Media, Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Marist University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Marist University are $77,819, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Marist University accredited?
Yes. Marist University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Marist University?
Marist University enrolls 5,182 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Marist University?
Marist University graduates 79% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Marist University a public or private college?
Marist University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Marist University located?
Marist University is located in Poughkeepsie, New York.
What programs does Marist University offer?
Marist University offers 46 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Communication & Media, Psychology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Marist University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Marist University is 16:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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