Finance and Financial Management Services at Duquesne University

Duquesne's finance program sits in an interesting middle ground among Pennsylvania schools—not competing with Penn's elite outcomes, but delivering solidly above-average results with manageable debt. At $59,878 starting and $67,308 four years out, graduates earn more than the national median ($53,590) and slightly above Pennsylvania's median ($57,855), placing this program in the 60th percentile statewide.

The financial picture is particularly appealing: $27,000 in median debt translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.45, meaning graduates owe less than half their first-year salary. This puts Duquesne in the 5th percentile nationally for debt—meaning 95% of finance programs saddle students with more borrowing. That's a meaningful advantage when you consider that Saint Joseph's graduates earn roughly the same ($66,072) but many programs charge considerably more.

The 12% earnings growth to year four suggests steady career progression, though graduates won't immediately match the trajectories seen at Villanova or Lehigh. For families prioritizing a strong ROI without reaching for the most selective programs, this represents solid value: competitive finance skills development at a reasonable price, with debt levels that won't constrain early-career choices. The relatively high admission rate (79%) also makes this accessible to students who might struggle to gain entry elsewhere.