At $34,978/yr net price, Duquesne University graduates earn $74,742/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $40,742/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $34,978 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $139,912 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $74,742/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$40,742/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 3.4 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 75.5% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $26,244 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $25,943/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $27,610/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $31,920/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $35,852/yr |
| $110,001+ | $38,975/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration. | Doctoral | $113,414 | $52,000 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | Master | $104,192 | |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Doctoral | $93,342 | |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Master | $88,739 | $65,117 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Master | $86,129 | $33,500 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions. | Doctoral | $68,666 | $73,412 |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services. | Doctoral | $67,660 | |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $65,486 | $40,750 |
| Management Information Systems and Services. | Bachelor | $62,154 | |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $60,900 | $19,500 |
The Risk Factor
75.5% of students at Duquesne University graduate within 6 years. A significant share of students finish, but roughly 25% do not complete their degree.
Analysis
Duquesne University gives you a solid financial return, but the price tag demands attention. You pay close to $35,000 a year net, and your median debt at graduation sits around $26,000. Ten years out, median earnings clear $74,000, which means the degree pays for itself if you finish and land in the right field. The 75.5% graduation rate and 86% retention rate tell you most people who start here stay and finish, so the risk of paying without a credential is lower than at many private schools.
The strongest bets are its technical and health programs. Management Information Systems, Computer and Information Sciences, and Nursing all land graduates above $59,000 early, and Nursing does it with notably low debt around $19,500. That combination of pay and light borrowing makes Nursing the standout value here, especially given Pittsburgh's large hospital systems. Pharmacy and International Business pay well too but sit lower than you'd expect for the cost.
The main risk is the price itself. If your major falls outside business, computing, or health, your starting salary may not justify $35,000 a year, and Duquesne lists no low-earning program data to reassure you otherwise. Borrowing at the median while entering a lower-paying field is where this school stops paying off.
The net price barely moves by income. If your family earns under $30,000, you still pay nearly $26,000 a year, and that number climbs only modestly as income rises to $110,000-plus at around $39,000. Duquesne does not discount steeply for lower-income families, so if money is tight, run the aid numbers carefully before committing. This school fits you best if you're headed into nursing, computing, or MIS and can manage the flat, high net price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Duquesne University worth the cost?
Duquesne's $35,000 annual net price produces $75,000 in median earnings 10 years after graduation, which is decent but not exceptional for the cost. The value depends heavily on your program - pharmacy and nursing graduates earn significantly more than liberal arts majors.
What are the highest paying majors at Duquesne University?
Pharmacy leads at $113,000 median earnings, followed by pharmaceutical sciences at $104,000 and nursing at $93,000. These healthcare programs justify the tuition cost better than general liberal arts, which still earns over $100,000 but represents less clear value.
How much debt do Duquesne University graduates have?
Duquesne graduates carry a median debt of $26,244, which is manageable compared to the national average. However, with a 75% graduation rate, about 1 in 4 students leave without a degree but potentially with debt.
Does Duquesne University have good financial aid?
The $35,000 net price suggests Duquesne provides some aid from its $54,000 sticker price, but it's still expensive for a regional private university. Students should compare aid packages carefully since the 87% acceptance rate means less competition for merit scholarships.