Pace University Tuition and Fees
Pace University is a private university with campuses located in and around New York City. Composed of seven schools and colleges, Pace offers courses in a wide variety of fields, including business, health care, computer science, sustainability and justice, education, science, law, and fine and performing arts. Known for its small class sizes, Pace combines the resources and advantages of a large university with the personalized attention and focus typically associated with a small college. Here’s an overview of how much it costs to go to Pace, including tuition, housing costs, graduate school costs, and financial aid options.
Total Cost of Attendance
Costs for 2026-27
• Tuition and Fees: $57,778-$57,788 ($64,778-$64,788 for Sands College of Performing Arts)
• Books and Supplies: $1,000
• Room and Board: $20,900-$25,400
• Other Expenses: $2,970
• Total Cost of Attendance: $82,648-$94,158
Financial Aid
Pace financial aid tends to be generous. In fact, on average, a full 98% of first-year students receive some form of institutional or government financial aid, including grants, scholarships, and/or student loans. For instance, around 35% of Pace undergraduates receive federal grants and roughly 16% receive state grants. About 55% receive student loans.
Generally, financial aid is monetary assistance awarded to students based on personal need or merit. Students who qualify for financial aid can use it to pay for college costs such as tuition, books, and living expenses.
The federal government is the largest provider of student financial aid. However, aid can also be given by state governments, colleges and universities, private companies, and nonprofits. The different types include:
• Scholarships. These can be awarded by schools and other organizations based on students’ academic excellence, athletic achievement, community involvement, job experience, field of study, or financial need.
• Grants. Generally based on financial need, these can come from federal, state, private, or nonprofit organizations.
• Work-study. This federal program provides qualifying students with part-time employment to earn money for expenses while in school.
• Federal student loans. These involve money borrowed directly from the U.S. Department of Education. They come with fixed interest rates that are typically lower than private loans.
Colleges, universities, and state agencies use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) to determine financial aid eligibility. The FAFSA can be completed online, but note that state, federal, and school deadlines may differ.
You can find other financial aid opportunities on databases such as:
• U.S. Education Department – Search for grants from colleges and universities by state.
• College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS) – Apply to this global college scholarship system used by select institutions to award financial aid.
• SoFi Scholarship Finder – Use this handy tool to streamline your search by award type, location, level of study, and more.
Recommended: New York Student Loan and Scholarships
Private Student Loans
Many students at Pace take out student loans to help cover Pace tuition. That includes the 48% of students who take out federal student loans and the 11% who take out private student loans. Those private loans average $25,743 per academic year.
Private loans are funded by private organizations such as banks, online lenders, credit unions, some schools, and state-based or -affiliated organizations. While federal student loans have interest rates that are regulated by Congress, private lenders follow a different set of regulations, so their qualifications and interest rates can vary widely.
What’s more, private loans have variable or fixed interest rates that may be higher than federal loan interest rates, which are always fixed. Private lenders may (but don’t always) require you to make payments on your loans while you are still in school, compared to federal student loans, which you don’t have to start paying back until after you graduate, leave school, or change your enrollment status to less than half-time.
Private loans don’t have a specific application window and can be applied for on an as-needed basis. However, if you think you may need to take out a private loan, it’s a good idea to submit your FAFSA first to see what federal aid you may qualify for, since it generally has better rates and terms.
If you’ve missed the FAFSA deadline or you’re struggling to pay for school during the year, private loans can potentially help you make your tuition payments. Just keep in mind that you will need enough lead time for your loan to process and for your lender to send money to your school.
Recommended: Guide to Private Student Loans
Projected 4-Year-Degree Price
The total cost to attend Pace University for four years, based on 2026-27 numbers, would be $330,592-$376,632. This is significantly higher than the national average cost of attending a private university for four years, which is $247,600.
This student loan and scholarship information may be valuable as you research schools and costs.
Undergraduate Tuition and Fees
Costs for 2026-27
Pace University tuition and fees are $57,778-$57,788 for the 2026-27 academic year. For on-campus housing and food, students can expect to pay $20,900-$25,400. Books and supplies will be $1000, and other expenses come to $2,970. This puts the full-year cost of attendance at $82,648-$94,158, which is higher than the average cost of attendance for private schools in the U.S. of $61,900.
Graduate Tuition and Fees
Costs for 2025-26
• Tuition: $29,332
• Fees: $1,438
• Total cost: $30,770
The cost for graduate school at Pace, including tuition and fees, was $30,770 for 2025-26. This is somewhat higher than the average annual private graduate school tuition and fee amount in the U.S., which was $20,735 for 2025-26.
There are graduate loans available to help with these costs.
Cost per Credit Hour
The cost per credit for all part-time undergraduate programs at Pace other than the Sands School of Performing Arts is $1,580. The part-time cost per credit for programs offered by the Sands School is $1,750.
Campus Housing Expenses
Costs for 2026-27
|
On Campus |
Off Campus |
|
|
Room and Board |
$25,400 |
$26,326 |
|
Other Expenses |
$2,970 |
$3,070 |
|
Total Living Expenses |
$28,370 |
$29,396 |
At Pace University, new students are not required to live on campus, though many do. There are four residence halls on the New York City campus and five on the Westchester Campus.
For those who opt to live off campus, there are many nearby housing options.
Pace University Acceptance Rate
2025
|
Number of Applications |
30,030 |
|
Number Accepted |
22,798 |
|
Percentage Accepted |
76% |
The Pace University acceptance rate is 76%, which means that in the fall of 2025, a total of 22,798 students were accepted out of the 30,030 who applied. This makes the Pace University acceptance rate relatively high.
Admission Requirements
Here’s what Pace University requires of students in the application process.
Required:
• Application
• Two letters of recommendation
• Written essay/personal statement
Optional:
• SAT or ACT scores
Application deadlines:
• Early Decision: November 1
• Early Action I: November 15
• Early Action II: December 1
• Regular Decision: February 15 (decision will be given on a rolling basis)
SAT and ACT Scores
Though submitting standardized test scores is optional at Pace, it may be helpful to see how students who did submit scores performed on these tests. Here are the Pace standardized test scores at the 25th and 75th percentile for students who enrolled in Fall 2025.
|
Subject |
25th Percentile |
75th Percentile |
|
SAT Evidence-Based Reading/Writing |
600 |
680 |
|
SAT Math |
580 |
660 |
|
ACT Composite |
24 |
29 |
|
ACT English |
24 |
31 |
|
ACT Math |
22 |
27 |
Popular Majors at Pace University
From liberal arts to sciences, Pace University offers students many challenging and rewarding degree programs. Here’s a look at some of the school’s most popular majors.
1. Nursing
Students can earn a traditional Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Nursing or an Accelerated BS. They take courses including Anatomy and Physiology I, Basic Microbiology, and Principles of Chemistry for the Health Professions.
Undergraduate degrees in 2024-25: 207
2. Communication and Media Studies
Students in this program take courses such as Media, Culture, and Society, Writing for Media, Strategic Communication, Organizational Communication, Persuasive Speaking, and Language and Contexts.
Undergraduate degrees in 2024-25: 110
3. Finance
Not only will Finance majors learn the principles of finance and economics, but they will also have the opportunity to apply the theories in real business settings, including the Student Managed Investment Portfolio (SMIP), which is a university-sponsored portfolio worth approximately $400,000.
Undergraduate degrees in 2024-25: 96
4. Drama and Theater
At the Sands College of Performing Arts, students can pursue a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in acting, musical theater, directing, stage management, and more.
Undergraduate degrees in 2024-25: 85
5. Accounting
Pace offers several accounting degrees. This includes a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Accounting and a BBA in Public Accounting CPA Prep, along with a combined BBA in Public Accounting CPA Prep and MBA.
Undergraduate degrees in 2024-25: 70
6. Public Relations
In this program, students take classes such as Writing for Advertising, Media and Strategic Communication, and Celebrity Public Relations.
Undergraduate degrees in 2024-25: 56
7. Business Administration
Pace offers several different business degrees: a BBA in Business Studies or a BBA combined with a Juris Doctor (JD) or MBA.
Undergraduate degrees in 2024-25: 53
8. Criminal Justice
Students can either study for a BS in Criminal Justice or combine the degree with a JD. Either way, the rigorous curriculum prepares them for a career in law enforcement, the courts, or private security.
Undergraduate degrees in 2024-25: 50
9. Computer Science
Pace University offers both a BA and a BS in Computer Science. Classes include Mathematical Structures for Computer Science, Object-Oriented Programming, Data Structures and Algorithms, Software Engineering, and Algorithms and Computing Theory.
Undergraduate degrees in 2024-25: 50
10. Economics
Economics majors take courses such as Quantitative Analysis and Forecasting, Principles of Economics: Microeconomics, and Elementary Statistics.
Undergraduate degrees in 2024-25: 41
Graduation Rate
Many full-time students at Pace need more than four years to finish their degree. These are the Pace graduation rates for students in 2023:
• Four years: 52%
• Six years: 62%
Post-Graduation Median Earnings
As of 2024, Pace University graduates earned a median annual salary, 10 years after enrollment, of $70,378. This is lower than the median annual salary for all graduates of four-year colleges in the U.S. aged 25 and over, which is $81,800.
Bottom Line
For those looking for a school that offers a good education and has the amenities of a large institution yet feels small (thanks to a lower student-to-faculty ratio), Pace University may be a good match. And while the sticker price may seem high, a full 98% of undergraduates at Pace receive some type of financial aid, including federal grants, scholarships, and student loans.
If you’ve exhausted all federal student aid options, no-fee private student loans from SoFi can help you pay for school. The online application process is easy, and you can see rates and terms in just minutes. Repayment plans are flexible, so you can find an option that works for your financial plan and budget.
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