Marquette University
Marquette University — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Marquette University at a Glance
Marquette University is a private Jesuit research university in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. It was established as Marquette College on August 28, 1881, by John Henni, the first Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Initially an all-male institution, Marquette became the first coeducational Catholic university in the world in 1909.
1881
145 years old
$1.1B
$1.13 billion (2025)
11,373
7,652 undergrad · 3,721 grad
1,186
93 acres
Identity
How to Apply to Marquette University
Official admissions pageFebruary 1
November 15 (Early Action)
Is Marquette University Worth It?
Marquette University offers moderate value at $31,487/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $78,257, which is near the national average. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.6 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 82% graduation rate means roughly 18% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
How Marquette University compares to peer private nonprofit colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #5 of 29 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Saint Louis University | 58 | $24,398 | $70,783 |
| #2 | Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia | 58 | $29,689 | $86,881 |
| #3 | Bradley University | 54 | $22,719 | $66,852 |
| #4 | Loyola University Maryland | 54 | $30,574 | $82,652 |
| #5 | Marquette University | 51 | $31,487 | $78,257 |
| #6 | The Catholic University of America | 50 | $29,561 | $73,250 |
Peer group: private nonprofit colleges within ±60% of Marquette University's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at Marquette University
The highest-earning program at Marquette University is Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering at $66,800/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Social Work at $25,500/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering graduate from Marquette University earns $66,800, while a Social Work graduate earns $25,500. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering graduates carry $25,737 in median debt vs. $26,000 for Social Work.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $31,487/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $66,800 | $66,800 | $25,737 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $64,000 | $64,000 | $24,250 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $61,800 | $61,800 | $25,433 |
| Civil Engineering | $61,600 | $61,600 | $27,000 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $60,400 | $60,400 | $23,250 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $59,400 | $59,400 | $24,246 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $59,000 | $59,000 | $22,875 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $58,300 | $58,300 | $23,250 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $55,400 | $55,400 | $23,542 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $54,600 | $54,600 | $26,241 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $54,500 | $54,500 | N/A |
| International Business | $53,200 | $53,200 | $19,750 |
| Marketing | $50,700 | $50,700 | $23,950 |
| Real Estate | $50,200 | $50,200 | $22,750 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $45,600 | $45,600 | $22,500 |
| Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other | $39,700 | $39,700 | $26,000 |
| Mathematics | $39,500 | $39,500 | $19,250 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $38,300 | $38,300 | $25,000 |
| History | $38,300 | $38,300 | $23,500 |
| Economics | $37,900 | $37,900 | $25,125 |
| Political Science and Government | $37,200 | $37,200 | $24,093 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $36,200 | $36,200 | $24,900 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $35,400 | $35,400 | $21,283 |
| Psychology, General | $34,900 | $34,900 | $25,000 |
| Criminology | $34,100 | $34,100 | $24,795 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $32,800 | $32,800 | $23,225 |
| Sociology | $32,700 | $32,700 | $23,421 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $32,500 | $32,500 | $23,250 |
| Journalism | $31,900 | $31,900 | $23,625 |
| Biology, General | $31,600 | $31,600 | $26,999 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $31,500 | $31,500 | $22,824 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $28,000 | $28,000 | $21,500 |
| Social Work | $25,500 | $25,500 | $26,000 |
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Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- private
- Location
- Milwaukee, WI
- Student Body
- 7,660 students
- Admission Rate
- 81%
- Graduation Rate
- 82%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $31,487
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $78,257
- Median Student Debt
- $23,940