Admit rate has ranged 74%–79% over the last 5 years. 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.
Seton Hall University, a Catholic institution in suburban New Jersey, combines mid-sized intimacy (10,000 students) with proximity to New York City’s opportunities. Known for strong pre-professional programs—especially business, diplomacy, and health sciences—it boasts a 73% acceptance rate but delivers standout outcomes: 97% career success rates and median earnings ($76,919) well above national averages. Its tight-knit campus culture and generous aid (98% of students receive scholarships) make it a practical choice for career-focused students.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Letters of recommendation
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Class rank
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
6,036
In-state tuition
$53,170
Out-of-state tuition
$53,170
Campus Size
58 acres
Acceptance Rate
73%
4-Year Grad Rate
71%
Notable Programs
Business, Diplomacy, Health Sciences
Students Receiving Aid
98%
Avg Institutional Grant
$28,399
Median Earnings (Post-Grad)
$76,919
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$70,196
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.2×
Median debt at graduation
$22,750
Graduation rate
69%
First-year retention
81%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
70%
Pell (lower-income) share
49%
First-generation share
28%
Endowment / student
$61,267
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$74,576
Accounting and Related Services$64,791
Management Information Systems and Services$63,005
Business/Managerial Economics$55,914
Finance and Financial Management Services$55,693
Human Resources Management and Services
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
6
Per 1,000 students
0.99
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
87
Summer high
84°F
Winter low
28°F
Annual rain
53.6"
Annual snow
20.5"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively High
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). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
171
Scholarly works
10,587
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
3.2%
Bottom → top quintile
42%
From bottom quintile
8%
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 Seton Hall University?
Seton Hall University's acceptance rate is approximately 73% (South Orange, NJ), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Seton Hall University?
Admitted students at Seton Hall University typically score 1220–1390 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Seton Hall University cost?
At Seton Hall University, the average net price (after aid) is about $31,446 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Seton Hall University?
Seton Hall University enrolls approximately 6,036 undergraduate students.
Where is Seton Hall University located?
Seton Hall University is located in South Orange, NJ.
Admissions
Seton Hall’s admissions are moderately selective, with a 73% acceptance rate (18,152 admits from 24,776 applications in 2024). The middle 50% of admitted students score between 1240–1380 on the SAT or 25–29 on the ACT, with an average high school GPA of 3.68 (B+). Notably, the university recommends applicants aim for at least a 1200 SAT or 25 ACT to be competitive. While Test-optionalA policy where you choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores. If you don't, the rest of your application carries more weight., 50% of admitted students submitted scores. The five-year trend shows steady enrollment, with most freshmen arriving with GPAs above 3.5.
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.
$48,198
Economics$44,971
Marketing$43,319
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.
Academics
Seton Hall offers 90+ undergraduate programs across six schools, with standout colleges in Business, Diplomacy and International Relations, and Health and Medical Sciences. The liberal arts core emphasizes writing and logic, while popular majors include Psychology (5%), Humanities (5%), and International Relations (5%). The School of Diplomacy, one of fewer than 20 in the U.S. affiliated with the UN, leverages its NYC proximity for internships. Classes are small—60% have fewer than 20 students—and the faculty-student ratio (1:14) fosters mentorship.
Seton Hall’s 58-acre suburban campus in South Orange balances quiet greenery with easy train access to Manhattan (30 minutes). Described as a 'tight-knit community' by students, it hosts 200+ clubs and Division I athletics (Big East Conference). The vibe is collaborative rather than cutthroat, with a focus on professional networking. Nearly all undergraduates live on campus initially, fostering camaraderie. Weekend options range from NYC excursions to campus events like Pirates Pride nights. The Catholic identity is present but not overwhelming—daily mass is offered, but only 50% of students identify as Catholic.
Seton Hall punches above its weight in career results: 97.4% of 2024 graduates secured employment or grad school admission, with median earnings of $76,919 (vs. $60,377 national midpoint). Its four-year graduation rate (71%) towers 24 points above the national average, and 11% finish early. The School of Diplomacy places graduates at the UN and State Department, while business alumni network heavily in NYC finance. The career center reports 96.6% employment rates and 98.3% grad school acceptance, aided by strong internship pipelines (80% complete at least one).
Tuition runs $31,446 annually, but Seton Hall mitigates costs aggressively: 98% of students receive aid, with average grants of $28,399 from the university and $7,266 federal. Merit scholarships (up to full tuition) reward 3.5+ GPAs and 1300+ SATs. The Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. calculator helps families estimate actual costs, which often drop below sticker due to institutional generosity. Notably, 96% of aid comes as grants (not loans), though 63% of students still borrow. New Jersey residents benefit from additional state grants averaging $12,623.
Seton Hall excels at turning B+ students into A+ earners. Its Diplomacy School is a hidden gem for global careers, while the Stillman School of Business feeds Wall Street. The Catholic mission translates into robust ethics curricula and service opportunities, not dogma. Unlike urban commuter schools, it offers a traditional campus—yet NYC’s internships and alumni networks are a short train ride away. With higher-than-expected graduation rates and earnings, it’s a pragmatic choice for students who want big-city career access without sacrificing community.
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