At $30,031/yr net price, Suffolk University graduates earn $67,506/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $33,506/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $30,031 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $120,124 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $67,506/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$33,506/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 3.6 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 59.8% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $26,889 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $25,575/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $26,678/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $27,191/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $29,230/yr |
| $110,001+ | $35,802/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business/Managerial Economics. | Master | $97,071 | |
| Finance and Financial Management Services. | Master | $87,973 | |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $83,388 | $42,540 |
| Marketing. | Master | $76,460 | |
| Taxation. | Master | $74,576 | $20,500 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services. | Master | $69,338 | $41,162 |
| Accounting and Related Services. | Master | $67,273 | $40,539 |
| Public Administration. | Master | $62,260 | $41,000 |
| Law. | Doctoral | $59,253 | $113,386 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services. | Bachelor | $52,941 | $27,000 |
The Risk Factor
59.8% of students at Suffolk University graduate within 6 years. More than half of students finish, but the dropout rate is a real factor in whether this investment pays off.
Analysis
Suffolk University sits in a mixed financial spot. You pay a real private-school price, and ten years out the median graduate earns enough to clear their debt but not enough to call this a bargain. The Boston location works in your favor: finance, accounting, and information science all feed directly into a metro job market thick with banks, insurers, and tech firms.
Finance and information science are your safest bets here, each landing new grads around $52,000. Accounting and marketing follow close behind. These are the programs that justify the cost, and they line up with what Boston employers actually hire for. Economics pays the least of the top five and carries the same tuition, so the math is tighter there. Note that every listed program leaves you with roughly $26,000 to $27,000 in debt regardless of which one you pick, so your major changes your earnings more than your borrowing.
The clearest risk is completion. About four in ten students don't graduate in the expected window, and a quarter don't return after their first year. Debt without a degree is the worst outcome this school can hand you, and paying $30,000 a year to not finish is a real possibility you should weigh honestly.
The net price barely moves across income tiers until you reach the top bracket, where it jumps past $35,000. If your family earns under $48,000, you pay only a few thousand less than families earning six figures, so the discount for lower incomes is thin. Suffolk fits you if you're set on a business or IT degree and want to work in Boston after. If you're chasing a lower-paying field or aren't confident you'll finish, the price is hard to defend.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Suffolk University worth the cost compared to other Boston schools?
Suffolk University's $30,031 annual net price leads to median earnings of $67,506 after 10 years, which is below average for Boston-area schools. The 59.8% graduation rate is concerning given the cost.
Which Suffolk University programs have the best return on investment?
Business and finance programs at Suffolk offer the strongest ROI, with economics majors earning $97,071 and finance majors earning $87,973 after graduation. Other business programs also perform well above the school average.
How much student debt do Suffolk University graduates typically have?
Suffolk graduates leave with a median debt of $26,889, which is manageable compared to their starting salaries in business fields. However, graduates in lower-paying majors may struggle with loan payments.
Does Suffolk University's location in Boston justify its tuition costs?
While Boston offers job opportunities, Suffolk's earnings outcomes don't fully justify the cost compared to other regional options. The high acceptance rate of 86.8% suggests limited selectivity that may impact career prospects.