Pace University is a private university in New York with two campuses: one in Lower Manhattan and another in Westchester County, about 45 minutes north of the city. It enrolls roughly 13,000 students across undergraduate and graduate programs and is best known for its emphasis on career preparation, placing it among the institutions that market themselves as a bridge between classroom learning and professional life in one of the world’s largest job markets.
Two Campuses, Two Experiences
The New York City campus sits in Lower Manhattan near City Hall and the Financial District, giving students direct access to Wall Street firms, tech companies, media organizations, and the broader NYC internship pipeline. There’s no sprawling quad here. It’s an urban campus where the city itself functions as the surrounding environment.
The Westchester campus, located in Pleasantville, offers a more traditional college setting spread across 200 acres. It includes on-campus housing, NCAA Division II sports teams in the Northeast-10 Conference, Greek life, a conservation center with gardens and nature trails, and recently built or renovated academic, residential, and athletic facilities. VR and simulation labs, a media production studio, and an environmental center are among the newer additions. A shuttle bus and commuter train connect the two campuses, so Westchester students can still tap into NYC opportunities without living in the city.
Academic Programs
Pace offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate programs across several schools. The Lubin School of Business is one of its highest-profile colleges, drawing students interested in accounting, finance, management, and marketing. The Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems covers cybersecurity, data science, software engineering, and IT. The Dyson College of Arts and Sciences houses programs in the liberal arts, sciences, psychology, and pre-law tracks. The Elisabeth Haub School of Law is a separate graduate institution within Pace, known particularly for environmental law.
The Sands College of Performing Arts runs BFA programs in acting, musical theater, and related disciplines. Tuition for Sands students is higher than the university’s standard rate, reflecting the specialized training and studio-intensive format of those programs.
Career Outcomes
Pace leans heavily into its career services as a selling point, and the numbers back that up reasonably well. For the Class of 2024, 93% of bachelor’s degree graduates were employed, continuing their education, or in service roles within six months of graduation. The average full-time salary for that group was $75,098, and 83% landed in positions related to their field of study.
Graduate outcomes were stronger: 97% of master’s degree recipients were employed or continuing education, with 97% working in roles related to their field. The average full-time salary for master’s graduates was $87,153. These figures represent all graduates who were actively seeking employment, so they exclude anyone who chose not to enter the workforce.
The university’s proximity to New York City is a significant factor here. Students pursuing business, tech, media, or health care have access to internship and entry-level hiring pipelines that smaller-market schools simply can’t match. Pace actively promotes this connection through its career services office, which helps students secure internships, prepare for interviews, and build professional networks while still enrolled.
Admissions Profile
Pace has an acceptance rate of about 75%, making it accessible to a broad range of students without being open-admission. The middle 50% SAT range for admitted students falls between 1190 and 1340, and the ACT composite range sits at 25 to 30. Nearly half of admitted students carry a GPA of 3.50 or higher, though students with GPAs in the 3.00 to 3.49 range make up a substantial portion of the incoming class as well.
In practical terms, Pace is a realistic option for students with solid but not exceptional academic records. If your GPA is above a 3.0 and your test scores fall in the mid-range, you have a reasonable shot at admission. The university also accepts applications on a rolling basis for some programs, which gives you more flexibility on timing.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Full-time undergraduate tuition for the 2025-2026 academic year is $52,924. Students in the Sands College of Performing Arts pay $58,924. Room, board, fees, and personal expenses push the total cost of attendance higher, as with most private universities in the Northeast.
Pace awards merit-based scholarships to incoming students, and the amounts vary based on your academic profile. The university offers an online merit scholarship estimator tool that lets you plug in your GPA and test scores to get a rough idea of what you might receive before you apply. Need-based aid through federal and state programs (grants, work-study, loans) is also available. Most students at private universities like Pace pay significantly less than the sticker price after scholarships and aid are factored in, so the published tuition number rarely tells the full story.
Who Pace Is a Good Fit For
Pace tends to attract students who want access to New York City’s job market without attending a massive public university or paying Ivy League prices. It’s a strong pick for career-focused students in business, tech, health sciences, or performing arts who value internship access and professional development infrastructure. The Westchester campus adds an option for students who prefer a residential, community-oriented experience while staying connected to the city.
If you’re comparing Pace to other mid-tier private universities in the region, the distinguishing factors are location, career placement rates, and the dual-campus model. The 93% employment and continuing-education rate for undergrads and the $75,098 average starting salary give you a concrete benchmark to weigh against other schools on your list.