Suffolk University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Suffolk University charges a net price of $29,618/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $118,472. Graduates earn a median $67,506 ten years after entry, $19,146/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 6.2 years — a 20-year net return of $264,448, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Suffolk University's 6.2-year payback ranks #543 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 58% of them, and #32 of 85 in Massachusetts.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $29,618/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $118,472 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $67,506 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $19,146/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $26,889 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 6.2 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $264,448 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Suffolk University's own numbers. Net price $29,618 × 4 years = $118,472 total. Median earnings $67,506 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $19,146 a year of premium. $118,472 ÷ $19,146 = 6.2 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $264,448. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Suffolk University students graduate with?
A median $26,889 in federal loans among completers, or 40% of the $67,506 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Suffolk University students graduate?
61% finish their degree — 39% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $118,472 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $194,216 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Suffolk University expensive compared with other Massachusetts colleges?
Its $29,618 net price runs $4,735 above the $24,883 median across the 85 Massachusetts colleges we profile, or $18,940 more across the full degree.