Is Pace University a Good School in 2026? An Expert Evaluation

As a prospective college student exploring your options for higher education, you may be wondering – is Pace University a good school? In this comprehensive 2023 guide, I provide an expert evaluation to help you decide if applying to and attending Pace is the right choice.

Overview and Background of Pace University

First, let‘s start with some key background on this private university located in New York City and Westchester County, NY.

History and Founding

Pace University was founded in 1906 in Lower Manhattan by brothers Homer and Charles Pace as the Pace Institute of Accountancy. It was established to provide working professionals an opportunity to advance their careers through education focused on practical, real-world skills.

Over the past century, Pace has expanded into a multi-campus university while retaining that career preparation ethos across its 90+ undergraduate and graduate degree options spanning business, arts, sciences, education, health care, and more.

Campus Locations

Pace has six campuses in the NYC metro area:

• New York City Campus – Located in Lower Manhattan‘s Civic Center neighborhood, next to sites like the Brooklyn Bridge and Chinatown. This campus has a urban vibe and the most housing/dining/activities.

• Westchester Campus – Nestled in Pleasantville, NY, this suburban campus provides a more traditional college setting complete with green spaces, residence halls, and Division II athletics.

• Midtown Center – Houses Pace‘s Lubin School of Business and Seidenberg School of CSIS in Midtown NYC, adjacent to Grand Central Station and Times Square. Focused on commuter students.

• Haub Law Center – Located in White Plains, NY, this campus is home to Pace Law School, which is highly ranked nationwide for its environmental law program.

• Hudson Valley Center – Situated on a former IBM campus in Armonk, NY, this location offers select undergraduate and graduate degrees tailored to working professionals.

• Tech and Performing Arts Center – Opening Fall 2023 next to the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan. Will focus on technology, computer science, and performing arts programs.

Across all locations, Pace emphasizes small class sizes in state-of-the-art academic buildings to support active, engaged learning.

Academics and Degree Programs Offered

Pace contains five schools offering a wide variety of majors:

• Dyson College of Arts & Sciences – Spanning the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, data science, and more. Select stand out programs include Exceptional Education, Adolescence Education, Nursing, Public Health, and Applied Psychology & Applied Statistics dual major.

• Lubin School of Business – Offers 15 business specializations from accounting to investments to marketing, with the option to specialize further with niche concentrations. The Financial Economics major is uniquely positioned to prep students for roles in banking, corporate finance, investments, and more.

• Seidenberg School of CSIS – Its Computer Science, Information Systems, and Software Development programs are highly ranked nationwide and offer concentrations in cutting-edge tech fields like cybersecurity, blockchain, cloud computing, IoT, and telehealth.

• College of Health Professions – With strong accreditations across its Nursing, Nutrition, Public Health, Medical Lab Sciences, and Healthcare Administration offerings. Pace is also at the forefront of the fast-growing Physician Assistant graduate degree field.

• School of Education – Offers 15 teacher preparation programs across Early Childhood, Childhood Education, TESOL, Special Education, Ed Leadership and more. Pace has strong relationships with NYC public schools.

As you can see, Pace has made strategic investments in career-oriented programs tailored to high-demand fields – a key factor to evaluate when selecting a university.

Campus Life at Pace

Beyond academics, campus culture and student life are critical for happiness and success in college. Here‘s an overview of what life is like for students at Pace‘s various locations:

Housing and Dining Options

Pace offers diverse housing and dining options suitable for different budgets and needs:

• Residence Halls – Both campuses have suite-style dorms, singles, and apartments. The Actors Studio Drama Dorm has themed housing for performing arts students.

• Off-campus Housing – Many upperclassmen live in rented houses, apartments, brownstones, and high rise buildings nearby, like StuyTown. Pace helps connect students to available listings.

• Dining Halls and Meal Plans – For traditional American fare. Options like the all-you-can-eat Murphy‘s Place Bistro help satisfy college appetites.

• On-campus Restaurants – Such as the cozy Birch Café, Fresh Cultivate vegetarian eatery, Starbucks, and Dig Inn outpost with healthy bowls and sandwiches.

• NYC Dining – The Westchester campus offers regular shuttles for exploring New York‘s famous food scene, from pizza to dimsum to bagels!

Activities and Events

Pace University Student Life oversees 200+ clubs and organizations covering academic topics, social causes, faiths, cultures, hobbies, Greek life, and more.

The Pace Performing Arts program puts on 30+ productions yearly at renowned NYC venues like the Schimmel Center, NJPAC, and Ailey Citigroup Theater. Pace also hosts events like TEDx talks, film festivals, guest speaker series, and late night comedy shows on campus to foster community.

For continuing ed students with families, Pace organizes fun outings like summer cruise nights on the Hudson River and trips to seasonal NY attractions.

Athletics – Go Setters!

With 19 Division II teams, attending games and cheering on the Setters is a bonding activity for Pace students and alumni. Top men‘s teams include football, lacrosse, soccer, baseball and basketball. Top women‘s teams include soccer, softball, volleyball, swimming, and basketball.

Fitness buffs will appreciate the Briarcliff Gymnasium‘sweight rooms, cardio machines, basketball courts, indoor track, and pool. NYC campus-goers can obtain passes to excellent off-campus gyms.

Intramural sports like flag football, dodgeball, volleyball, and table tennis help students make friends and stay active outside academics.

Academics Analysis

Now, let‘s evaluate the key elements that characterize the academic experience at Pace University.

Quality of Faculty

With a 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio, students build close mentoring relationships with professors who also happen to be working professionals excelling in their fields.

82% of Pace‘s faculty hold the highest degree possible – a doctorate or terminal degree like an MFA. This passion for their subjects combined with real-world expertise makes classes engaging and impactful.

Class Sizes

True to its private school heritage, Pace University has an intimate classroom environment and small class sizes, averaging just 20 students. This facilitates valuable facetime with world-class professors and academic support staff.

Some large introductory lectures can reach 100 students, but break out into smaller discussion and lab sections. Capstone courses within majors rarely exceed 25 pupils, even in popular programs, allowing specialized attention.

Support Services

Pace has a robust array of academic support to set students up for success:

• Tutoring Centers – Provide free individual and group tutoring in challenging subjects like math, economics, computer science, and writing. Some centers offer peer-to-peer services while others are staffed by professors and PhD candidates.

• Libraries – Offer research assistance, private study rooms, hundreds of thousands of physical and digital resources, laptop lending, writing centers, and late night hours.

• Advising Services – Help students navigate requirements, select courses, and put together graduation plans. Useful for deciding a major and managing workload.

• Career Services – Assist students with internship placement, resume review, interview prep, workplace skills building, and full-time job searches. Useful for making the most of your degree.

Undergraduate Graduation Rates

A solid indicator of a university‘s quality is its 4-year undergraduate graduation rate. For context, the national average hovers around 33.3%.

Pace University‘s average 4-year graduation rate is 46%, demonstrating good degree completion outcomes. When extended to six years, the graduation rate rises to 67%which is on par with other reputable private universities.

This suggests Pace provides the tools and environment for a majority of admitted students to ultimately graduate successfully within a reasonable timeframe.

Admissions Information

Now let‘s explore Pace University‘s 2023 admissions to understand the typical academic profile of accepted students.

Acceptance Rate

For the 2022-2023 application cycle so far, Pace University‘s acceptance rate is approximately 73%. This means about 3 out of 4 applicants were admitted.

So while not highly exclusive, Pace does practice selective admissions compared to public state schools that often accept over 50% of applicants. Students need to present complete applications showcasing strong academics and extracurriculars to have the best shot.

Test Score Ranges

Pace is test-optional, but here are the score ranges for admitted students who chose to submit SAT or ACT scores:

• SAT Range – 1020 to 1220 for Evidence-Based Reading and Writing plus Math sections combined
• ACT Range – 20 to 27 Composite

So slightly above national average scores can help offset other weaknesses in applications.

Application Requirements

Pace‘s application process is straightforward, consisting of:

• Common Application – Primary form listing academics, activities, essay, etc. Can reuse for multiple schools.
• High School Transcript – Showcasing GPA and course rigor. Mid-year grades help.
• Letters of Recommendation – From teachers, counselors, employers.
• Application Fee – $50 to $80 depending on program. Waivers available.
• Supplemental Writing – Short essays specific to Pace about academic interests and fit.

Meeting deadlines and presenting a clean, compelling application package is key. Late November / Early December is ideal for Priority Scholarship consideration.

Costs and Financial Aid

Affordability is often the deciding factor in college selection. Here is a breakdown of costs to attend Pace University and strategies to make it financially feasible.

Tuition and Fees

As a private university, Pace‘s annual tuition and fees for the 2022-2023 year are:

• Undergraduate – Ranges from $47,310 to $53,610 depending on major
• Graduate – Ranges from $1,304 to $1,714 per credit depending on program
• Additional Costs – Around $1,500 for health insurance, technology fees, and textbooks

So an estimated total one year cost can range between $50,000 to $60,000 including housing, dining, and other personal / travel expenses.

While not cheap, this pricing is very comparable to other private colleges and universities, especially for the New York City location. Value comes from strong career outcomes post-graduation.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Here is a breakdown of financial assistance available to offset Pace‘s tuition costs:

• Scholarships – Through academics, arts, athletics, community service and more. Can reduce annual tuition cost by $5,000 to $30,000+. Apply Early Decision for priority consideration.

• Grants – Need-based aid that does not need to be repaid. Amounts tied to family income as determined by FAFSA application.

• Loans – Primarily government subsidized and unsubsidized direct loans with undergraduate limits ranging from $5,500 to $12,500 annually. Plus parent PLUS loans.

• Work-Study – On campus jobs or with community partners paying $15 per hour or more. Earn up to your work-study award level.

With available financial assistance, few students pay the university‘s full sticker price.

Career Outcomes for Graduates

When evaluating a college investment, it‘s prudent to understand the job and earnings potential post-graduation. Here are key statistics for Pace University‘s Class of 2022:

• Career Outcomes Rate – Percentage of graduates who obtain full-time employment or enroll in graduate school within 6 months of graduation. For Pace students, this rate is an impressive 92%, indicating strong preparation and recruiting by Pace.

• Average Starting Salary – Across industries, Pace‘s Class of 2022 graduates obtained an average starting salary of $59,600. This competitive earning potential speaks to Pace‘s career-oriented programs catered to in-demand fields.

• Top Employers – Demonstrating its NYC networks and talent pipeline, top companies hiring Pace students straight out of undergrad include Deloitte, Epic, Guidance, IBM, JPMorgan Chase, and PwC.

So by multiple measures, Pace University does an excellent job setting graduates up for workplace success.

Pros and Cons of Attending

Based on this comprehensive analysis, here are the key advantages and potential drawbacks I identified for prospective students considering Pace University:

Pros

• Location in NYC and Westchester County provides access to unparalleled internship, social, and cultural experiences
• High-caliber programs in business, computer science, education, health fields, and performing arts tailored to in-demand career paths
• Small class sizes enable valuable student-faculty interaction and support
• Graduates obtain good starting salaries and have strong career outcomes overall
• Extensive offerings foster engagement – clubs, arts, athletics, events
• Financial aid and scholarships make the private school tuition affordable to more families

Cons

• Expensive total cost compared to public state schools, especially out-of-state students
• Competitive admissions presents some risk for borderline students
• Commuter-focused campuses lack traditional campus feel
• Westchester/Law School students require shuttles to access NYC opportunities
• Large core curriculum may delay specialized field study

Conclusion: Pace University Makes the Grade

In my expert opinion as a higher education analyst, Pace University constitutes a good – and often great – school option for certain students, especially those seeking specific technology, pre-professional, performing arts, or education degrees.

Its strengths in location; career-oriented programs; hands-on learning; outcomes for graduates; smaller classes; sports, arts, clubs; and financial assistance availablity make Pace University competitive with pricier peer private colleges.

Ultimately each prospective student should weigh how Pace‘s offerings align with their personal academic interests, learning preferences, career ambitions, lifestyle desires, and budget.

But for the right students, Pace University delivers immense access to world-class opportunities that can transform lives. I hope this detailed evaluation for 2023 helps you determine if you are one of them!