Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Albany, New York · Private Nonprofit · 52.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 94/100 · Exceptional Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (ACPHS) scores 94 (Exceptional Value), driven by a 2.7-year payback period and $94,500 average 6-year earnings, both exceptional metrics. Median debt of $25,500 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.270 confirm the strong ROI math. The repayment rate of 94.5% at three years is extraordinary, reflecting graduates who are earning enough to service debt comfortably. The completion rate of 67.5% is the one soft spot. ACPHS is tiny (481 students) and highly focused; the 52.7% admission rate reflects meaningful selectivity. SAT mid-ranges of 560-700 Math and 550-680 Reading indicate a quantitatively prepared student body. The only Scorecard-reported program is Pharmacy (39 graduates), which shows $40,169 year-one and $84,423 year-four - the year-one figure is depressed because pharmacy graduates often complete rotations in year four and enter the workforce with strong but delayed earnings.
Graduates recoup their total investment in just 2.7 years. The median across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $41,475/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $41,475/yr |
| Average net price | $29,882/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $119,528 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $131,426 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $94,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $270 |
| Estimated payback period | 2.7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 67.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 481 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $41,475/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $29,882/year, or roughly $119,528 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $22,404/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $33,753/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $25,500, which works out to about $270 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($94,500) and comes to 0.27, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $22,404 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $22,566 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $29,395 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $31,067 |
| $110,001+ | $33,753 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $22,404 per year at ACPHS, and the $30,001-48,000 bracket pays $22,566 - nearly flat, suggesting consistent aid across the lowest income tiers. Over four years, roughly $89,000-$90,000. Against $94,500 average earnings and a 2.7-year payback period, even lower-income families can construct a defensible financial case if the student completes and passes licensure. The 67.5% completion rate is the risk factor.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-75,000 bracket pays $29,395; the $75,001-110,000 bracket pays $31,067. The aid taper is moderate. At $30,000 per year, the investment is meaningful but the payback period of 2.7 years and $94,500 average earnings make it financially rational for students who complete and enter clinical practice.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families over $110,000 pay $33,753 per year, or roughly $135,000 over four years. At a 2.7-year payback and $94,500 average earnings, the full-pay case is strong. Pharmacy is a licensed profession with relatively stable demand and structured earning trajectories. ACPHS full-pay makes financial sense for students who are committed to the career path.
Earnings by Major
Top 1 most popular majors at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy | $84,423 | C |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Pharmacy
Pharmacy is the only Scorecard-reported program at ACPHS: 39 graduates, $40,169 year-one, $84,423 year-four, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.672 (ROI grade C). The C grade reflects that year-one earnings are low - pharmacy graduates complete professional rotations before independent practice, and the $40k year-one figure captures a depressed early-career period. By year four, $84,423 is consistent with staff pharmacist compensation. Median debt of $27,000 is relatively low for a pharmacy degree, suggesting ACPHS's aid and cost structure is competitive. The institutional-level 94 ROI score reflects average earnings of $94,500 across the entire graduate population.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 89.9% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 94.5% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 93.2% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 94.6% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 52.7% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 560-700 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 550-680 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 23-31 |
| Enrollment | 481 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 28.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $10,066 |
ACPHS's 52.7% admission rate places it in a selective tier for health sciences colleges. SAT ranges of 560-700 Math and 550-680 Reading and ACT 23-31 indicate that quantitative preparation matters. The pharmacy program specifically will have clinical and lab prerequisites that go beyond general admissions. Students targeting ACPHS should understand the curriculum intensity and the licensing requirements (NAPLEX) that follow graduation.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (this school) | 94 | $29,882 | $131,426 |
| MCPHS University | 90 | $39,545 | $125,557 |
| Chamberlain University-Florida | 74 | $31,269 | $92,405 |
| Chamberlain University-Ohio | 73 | $31,544 | $92,405 |
| Chamberlain University-Texas | 73 | $32,209 | $92,405 |
| West Coast University-Ontario | 71 | $49,590 | $102,672 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
ACPHS admits 52.7% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 560-700 Math and 550-680 Reading, ACT 23-31. The 28.9% Pell grant rate suggests moderate socioeconomic diversity. ACPHS enrolls 481 students. The student body is almost entirely pre-pharmacy or health sciences track. Students who are committed to pharmacy, pharmaceutical sciences, or health administration and who meet the academic requirements are the right fit. Students who are undecided or who want a broad undergraduate experience will not find it here.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
If you're asking whether Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is worth it, the short answer is yes - it's one of the strongest money decisions in higher education. Four years here run about $119,528 after aid, and the typical graduate earns $131,426 ten years out. That earnings head start covers the cost in roughly 2.7 years, well ahead of most schools.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
On debt, you can breathe a little easier here. Median debt of $25,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $94,500 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.27: well under 1.0, the point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings.
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences: Common Questions
Is Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences pays off. It scores 94/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $29,882 a year after aid ($119,528 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $131,426 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 2.7 years to earn back.
How much does Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $29,882 a year, or roughly $119,528 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $131,426 ten years after enrolling, roughly $89,626 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 2.7 years for Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,500, against average earnings of $94,500 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.27. In our view that is very manageable: well under 1.0, the point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings.
What is the graduation rate at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences?
The six-year graduation rate is 67.5%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.