Admit rate has ranged 70%–88% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Quinnipiac University is a private Connecticut institution that punches above its weight in health sciences and communications, offering students a hands-on education with strong career outcomes. With a 72% acceptance rate and a suburban campus that buzzes during the week but quiets on weekends, it attracts students who want professional preparation without Ivy League pressure. Its 79% graduation rate and $84,363 mid-career earnings (per College Scorecard) reflect a focused return on investment.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Letters of recommendation
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
6,531
In-state tuition
$55,480
Out-of-state tuition
$55,480
Acceptance Rate
72%
Mid-Career Earnings
$84,363
Campus Safety Rating
97% feel safe
Student-Faculty Ratio
12:1
4-Year Graduation Rate
79%
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$83,759
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.1×
Median debt at graduation
$26,000
Graduation rate
76%
First-year retention
89%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
82%
Pell (lower-income) share
26%
First-generation share
20%
Endowment / student
$117,051
Financial health
3.0 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$75,548
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions$61,681
Accounting and Related Services$61,020
Information Science/Studies$57,995
Finance and Financial Management Services$57,318
Economics
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
0
Per 1,000 students
0.00
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
93
Summer high
81°F
Winter low
26°F
Annual rain
57.6"
Annual snow
25.5"
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023).
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
137
Scholarly works
5,941
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
0.9%
Bottom → top quintile
49%
From bottom quintile
2%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Quinnipiac University?
Quinnipiac University's acceptance rate is approximately 72% (Hamden, CT), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Quinnipiac University?
Admitted students at Quinnipiac University typically score 1150–1320 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Quinnipiac University cost?
At Quinnipiac University, the average net price (after aid) is about $40,675 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Quinnipiac University?
Quinnipiac University enrolls approximately 6,531 undergraduate students.
Where is Quinnipiac University located?
Quinnipiac University is located in Hamden, CT.
Admissions
Quinnipiac's admissions process is moderately selective, with a 72% Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. for the 23,935 applicants in its most recent cycle. The middle 50% of admitted students scored between 1160-1300 on the SAT or 24-29 on the ACT, with 42% holding GPAs of 3.75 or higher. Early action is available, and the university emphasizes a minimum 3.3 GPA or 'B' average for consideration. Notably, 17,271 applicants were accepted from the pool, with 6,557 enrolling—a YieldThe share of admitted students who actually choose to enroll. Colleges watch it closely, which is why some weigh how interested you seem. rate of about 38%.
Quinnipiac shines in health professions (particularly nursing and physical therapy) and business programs, which dominate its most popular majors. The curriculum emphasizes career readiness, with a student-faculty ratio that fosters close mentorship. The university boasts a project-based learning approach, including clinical rotations for health sciences students and a renowned media program anchored by the Quinnipiac Polling Institute. Programs in engineering and communications also draw praise for their hands-on labs and internships.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
$53,358
Computer Software and Media Applications$48,432
International Business$48,432
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Weekdays buzz with activity—think NCAA Division I hockey games (a major campus draw), 100+ clubs, and events hosted by the Office of Campus Life. But weekends see a quieter vibe, with many students heading home or staying in dorms. 97% of students report feeling safe on campus, and involvement ranges from a cappella groups to pre-professional societies. The suburban Hamden location offers easy access to New Haven’s arts and pizza scene, though some students note the need for a car to explore beyond campus.
Quinnipiac delivers strong ROI: a 79% graduation rate (well above the national average) and 96-98% of graduates employed or in grad school within six months. Mid-career earnings hit $84,363 (per College Scorecard), with early-career salaries averaging $56,569. The Wall Street Journal recently ranked it among the top 100 U.S. universities, weighting outcomes heavily. Notably, 87% of graduates outearn typical high school diploma holders, and most finish in 4.1 years—a testament to its structured advising.
With an average net price of $39,051 after aid, Quinnipiac isn’t cheap, but it offers substantial merit scholarships ($7,000-$28,000 annually) and Need-based aidFinancial aid awarded based on your family's ability to pay, as measured by forms like the FAFSA, rather than on achievements. averaging $33,142 for first-years. Two-thirds of students receive financial aid, though the sticker price—tuition plus room/board—approaches $70,000. The university encourages use of its Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. Calculator, emphasizing transparency in costs. For families weighing value, the high graduation rate and earnings potential help justify the investment.
Quinnipiac’s niche in health sciences and media—bolstered by its polling institute and partnerships with Connecticut hospitals—gives it an edge over similar mid-sized privates. Unlike sprawling research universities, it focuses on undergraduate professional preparation, with small classes and a 12:1 student-faculty ratio. The campus culture balances work and play: serious about internships and outcomes, but with a tight-knit community where hockey games and club fairs draw crowds. For students seeking a direct career path without the cutthroat competition of elite schools, it’s a compelling choice.
Quinnipiac University logo · sourceMount Carmel Campus | Quinnipiac University · sourceVirtual Tour and Self-Guided Tour | Quinnipiac University · sourceCampuses and Facilities | Quinnipiac University · source
.jpg?width=1600)
