Farmingdale State College
Farmingdale, New York · Public · 63.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 83/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Farmingdale State College scores 83 (Strong Value) on CampusROI, driven by a very high earnings premium (97 sub-score), 5.3-year payback period, and low median debt of $14,718. In-state tuition is $8,626 and net price is $10,867. The completion rate of 52.8% is the primary drag on the score - slightly more than half of students finish. Registered Nursing leads by earnings: 96 graduates, $103,508 year-one, $108,029 year-four, ROI grade A. Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science (22 graduates, $95,766 year-one, A grade) is a close second. Dental Support Services ($72,908 year-one, A grade) and Construction Engineering Technology ($69,942 year-one, B+) round out the top tier. Business Administration (309 graduates) is the largest program by volume with a B grade.
Farmingdale State College scores in the top 11% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
Farmingdale State College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $8,626/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $18,536/yr |
| Average net price | $10,867/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $43,468 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $69,781 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $44,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $14,718 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $156 |
| Estimated payback period | 5.3 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 52.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 9,552 |
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: $8,626/year ($18,536/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 $10,867/year, or roughly $43,468 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 $4,933/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $17,919/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $14,718, which works out to about $156 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($44,800) and comes to 0.33, 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 | $4,933 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $6,985 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $11,834 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $14,893 |
| $110,001+ | $17,919 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $4,933 per year at Farmingdale - $19,732 over four years. Against $44,800 average 6-year earnings and a 5.3-year payback, the value case for low-income students who complete is exceptional. The completion rate risk (52.8%) is the primary concern - students from lower-income backgrounds who do not finish will carry debt without the degree.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $11,834 per year and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $14,893. Middle-income families in New York access a strong price-to-outcome ratio at Farmingdale. Nursing and clinical lab science graduates at these price points achieve payback periods of approximately two to three years given their year-one earnings.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning over $110,000 pay $17,919 per year - approximately $71,700 over four years. Even at the highest income bracket, Farmingdale is remarkably affordable. For nursing graduates earning $103,508 in year one, the four-year cost is recovered in under one year of post-graduation income.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Farmingdale State College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $61,497 | B |
| Science, Technology and Society | $54,746 | C |
| Security Science and Technology | $60,464 | C+ |
| Computer Programming | $71,665 | C+ |
| Registered Nursing | $108,029 | A |
| Biology | $71,533 | C+ |
| Clinical Psychology | $58,570 | C |
| Air Transportation | $72,195 | C+ |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $51,580 | C |
| Construction Engineering Technology/Technician | $89,913 | B+ |
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.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing is Farmingdale's standout program: 96 graduates, $103,508 year-one, $108,029 year-four, ROI grade A, with median debt of $21,646 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.209. The year-one figure is $103,508. Against $21,646 in median debt, the financial case is exceptional - gross debt coverage at year-one earnings is just over two months of income.
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science (22 graduates) earns $95,766 year-one and $104,169 year-four with median debt of $26,470 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.276 (ROI grade B+). New York's hospital and clinical laboratory sector pays above national norms, driving these strong figures. The year-one earnings of $95,766 make this the second-highest earning program at Farmingdale.
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
Construction Engineering Technology (47 graduates) earns $69,942 year-one and $89,913 year-four with median debt of $17,500 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.250 (ROI grade B+). The combination of low median debt ($17,500) and strong year-four earnings ($89,913) makes this one of the more financially efficient programs at Farmingdale.
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians
Mechanical Engineering Technologies (47 graduates) earns $62,223 year-one and $91,941 year-four with median debt of $17,409 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.280 (ROI grade B+). The four-year growth to $91,941 is strong, reflecting career advancement in manufacturing and industrial roles in the NYC metro area. Low median debt of $17,409 and the in-state tuition advantage combine to make this one of the better financial programs at Farmingdale.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is Farmingdale's largest program at 309 graduates: $39,290 year-one and $61,497 year-four with median debt of $17,250 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.439 (ROI grade B). Year-one earnings are moderate but median debt is very low, creating a manageable early-career financial position. Business administration is a broad access point for students without specific technical program targets.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 72.0% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 77.0% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 71.3% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 75.0% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Farmingdale State College’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 | 63.3% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 520-620 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 520-620 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 20-28 |
| Enrollment | 9,552 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 36.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,379 |
At 63.3% admission with SAT 520-620 Math and Reading, Farmingdale is accessible but has a defined academic floor. The applied technical focus means some programs may have supplemental requirements (clinical prerequisites for nursing, etc.). Given the 52.8% completion rate, prospective students should realistically assess academic readiness and have clear program goals.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Farmingdale's nursing program is a differentiated asset.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Farmingdale State College (this school) | 83 | $10,867 | $69,781 |
| New Jersey Institute of Technology | 92 | $16,504 | $84,276 |
| CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | 92 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
| The College of New Jersey | 83 | $27,646 | $73,323 |
| CUNY Brooklyn College | 81 | $3,103 | $60,752 |
| University of Vermont | 78 | $19,343 | $62,472 |
Who Thrives Here
Farmingdale admits 63.3% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 520-620 Math and 520-620 Reading; ACT 20-28. Enrollment is 9,552 - a medium-large public institution. Pell rate of 36.3% indicates significant low-to-moderate income representation. Farmingdale is a SUNY institution in Farmingdale, NY, drawing heavily from the NYC metro area. Students who complete applied technical, health, or engineering technology programs have excellent local employment access. The 52.8% completion rate means many students do not finish - academic preparation and program selection are critical.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, Farmingdale State College pays off. You'd pay about $10,867 a year after aid ($43,468 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $69,781 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 5.3 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, manageable debt relative to earnings.
Median debt of $14,718 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $44,800 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.33, 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.
Farmingdale State College: Common Questions
Is Farmingdale State College worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Farmingdale State College pays off. It scores 83/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $10,867 a year after aid ($43,468 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $69,781 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 5.3 years to earn back.
How much does Farmingdale State College 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 $10,867 a year, or roughly $43,468 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 Farmingdale State College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $69,781 ten years after enrolling, roughly $27,981 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 Farmingdale State College?
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 5.3 years for Farmingdale State College. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Farmingdale State College graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $14,718, against average earnings of $44,800 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.33. 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 Farmingdale State College?
The six-year graduation rate is 52.8%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (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.