Binghamton University
Vestal, New York · Public · 38.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 89/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Binghamton University scores 89 (Strong Value) on the CampusROI scale, driven by a 5-year payback period, $47,700 average 6-year earnings, and an 81.6% completion rate. In-state tuition runs $10,567, but net price averages $21,620 - the gap reflects limited grant aid for middle- and upper-income families paying out-of-pocket. Computer Science (117 graduates, $82,329 year-one, $126,183 year-four, ROI grade A) and Finance (131 graduates, $73,598 year-one, $115,013 year-four, ROI grade A) pull the overall score up; Biology (458 graduates, $25,016 year-one) and Psychology (323 graduates, $30,023 year-one) drag it down.
The median graduate earns $80,596 ten years after entry - well above the roughly $53,600 median across the schools we score.
Binghamton University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $10,567/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $30,447/yr |
| Average net price | $21,620/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $86,480 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $80,596 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $47,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $18,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $196 |
| Estimated payback period | 5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 81.6% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 14,655 |
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: $10,567/year ($30,447/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $21,620/year, or roughly $86,480 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 $12,171/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $28,475/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $18,500, which works out to about $196 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($47,700) and comes to 0.39, 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 | $12,171 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $15,281 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $20,347 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $23,533 |
| $110,001+ | $28,475 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $12,171 net price per year at Binghamton. Over four years that totals roughly $48,700, against median debt of $18,500. For in-state students from low-income families who get into a high-earning major like CS or nursing, this is a strong value proposition. The Pell grant rate of 28.1% suggests the school enrolls a meaningful share of lower-income students.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-$75,000) pay $20,347 net price per year; those earning $75,001-$110,000 pay $23,533. A student from a family earning $60,000 will pay roughly $81,000 over four years - a meaningful commitment. Payback on that investment in a high-earning major is clear; in a lower-earning major, it requires graduate school or a clear career plan to close the gap.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $28,475 per year, totaling about $113,900 over four years. The 5-year payback period assumes the average earnings figure of $47,700, which is pulled down by the large biology, psychology, and social science student populations. High-income families should run the analysis program-by-program rather than relying on the institutional median.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Binghamton University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | $66,816 | D |
| Psychology | $67,249 | C |
| Economics | $81,040 | B |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $77,478 | D |
| Registered Nursing | $108,691 | B+ |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $72,955 | D |
| Finance and Financial Management | $115,013 | A |
| Accounting | $106,323 | B+ |
| Natural Resources Conservation | $55,579 | C |
| International Relations | $73,044 | 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.
Computer Science
Computer Science is Binghamton's best ROI program: 117 graduates, $82,329 median year-one earnings, $126,183 at year four, ROI grade A. Median debt of $19,500 against a year-one salary above $82k produces a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.237 - graduates are in repayment-comfortable territory quickly. The four-year trajectory to $126k reflects strong placement in New York City tech, finance technology, and a share of students who pursue graduate study.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance and Financial Management has 131 graduates earning $73,598 at year one and $115,013 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.204 (ROI grade A). The low debt ratio relative to earnings reflects strong year-one placement - Binghamton's School of Management has a pipeline into Wall Street, regional banks, and financial services firms. The four-year jump from $73k to $115k is consistent with compensation curves in finance, where base salary plus bonus accelerates in years two through four.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing is Binghamton's highest-volume top-earner: 190 graduates, $86,404 year-one, $108,691 year-four, ROI grade B+. Median debt of $23,750 against year-one earnings above $86k is workable; the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.275 is reasonable for healthcare. The Decker College of Nursing feeds directly into regional hospital systems in upstate New York and the broader Northeast. Year-one nursing earnings at Binghamton reflect current market rates for BSN-prepared RNs in the region.
Economics
Economics is Binghamton's largest program by graduates at 302, with $48,120 year-one and $81,040 year-four earnings and a B-grade ROI (debt-to-earnings 0.414). The year-one figure is moderate - economics graduates here are entering financial services, consulting, and public sector roles at varying levels - and the four-year trajectory to $81k suggests decent career progression. Median debt of $19,919 is manageable but not trivial relative to the starting salary. Economics students who go on to graduate or professional programs will see better long-run outcomes not captured in the Scorecard data.
Biology
Biology is Binghamton's highest-volume program at 458 graduates, but year-one median earnings of $25,016 and an ROI grade of D tell a clear story: most biology graduates are heading into graduate or medical school, not the workforce. The four-year figure of $66,816 reflects those who do enter the labor market after further training. Debt of $20,478 against year-one earnings of $25,016 produces a 0.819 debt-to-earnings ratio. Students planning a direct-employment path with a Binghamton biology degree should understand the near-term financial picture and plan accordingly.
Psychology
Psychology is the second-largest program at 323 graduates, with $30,023 year-one and $67,249 year-four earnings and a C-grade ROI (debt-to-earnings 0.683). The low year-one figure reflects both a competitive entry-level market for psychology graduates and a high share proceeding to graduate or professional programs. Students entering this program expecting direct bachelor's-level employment should research specific career paths; the earnings data here capture a heterogeneous group whose outcomes depend heavily on what happens after graduation.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 76.9% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 80.6% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 79.1% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 82.1% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Binghamton University’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 | 38.6% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 670-760 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 670-740 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 30-32 |
| Enrollment | 14,655 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 28.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,086 |
The SAT Math 670-760 and Reading 670-740 ranges, with ACT 30-32 composite, describe a genuinely competitive applicant pool.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binghamton University (this school) | 89 | $21,620 | $80,596 |
| CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | 92 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
| University of California-Santa Barbara | 90 | $16,109 | $74,915 |
| University of Georgia | 88 | $13,936 | $68,726 |
| Clemson University | 86 | $22,253 | $71,513 |
| CUNY Brooklyn College | 81 | $3,103 | $60,752 |
Who Thrives Here
Binghamton admits 38.6% of applicants. SAT mid-ranges of 670-760 Math and 670-740 Reading indicate a competitive applicant pool. At 14,655 undergraduates, Binghamton has the scale of a large research university with the SUNY price advantage for New York residents. Students targeting pre-professional programs (nursing, business, engineering, CS) will find real return on investment. Students entering biology, humanities, or social sciences should understand that median year-one earnings in those fields at Binghamton run $25,000-$35,000.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, Binghamton University pays off. You'd pay about $21,620 a year after aid ($86,480 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $80,596 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 5 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 81.6% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings.
Median debt of $18,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $47,700 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Binghamton University: Common Questions
Is Binghamton University worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Binghamton University pays off. It scores 89/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $21,620 a year after aid ($86,480 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $80,596 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 5 years to earn back.
How much does Binghamton University 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 $21,620 a year, or roughly $86,480 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 Binghamton University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $80,596 ten years after enrolling, roughly $38,796 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 Binghamton University?
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 5 years for Binghamton University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Binghamton University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $18,500, against average earnings of $47,700 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Binghamton University?
The six-year graduation rate is 81.6%, 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.