Siena College
Loudonville, New York · Private Nonprofit · 69.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 75/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Siena College scores 75 (Strong Value) on the CampusROI scale - a solid outcome for a private nonprofit with $46,580 in sticker tuition. The net price of $33,733 and median debt of $26,561 produce a 6.7-year payback period against $46,000 in average 6-year earnings. The 74.7% completion rate and 86.4% repayment rate at three years are both above average. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.577 scores lower than the other sub-metrics, reflecting that net price still leaves graduates with significant debt relative to earnings. Computer and Information Sciences (29 graduates, $64,677 year-one, ROI grade B) and Finance (59 graduates, $54,056 year-one, ROI grade C+) anchor the higher-earning end. Economics (25 graduates, $54,328 year-one), Management Sciences (9 graduates, $54,855 year-one), and Accounting (61 graduates, $49,463 year-one) fill out the business cluster. History (23 graduates), Psychology (85 graduates), and International Relations (38 graduates) all score D on ROI, indicating substantial debt against near-term earnings that don't justify a $46,580 tuition in any simple financial analysis.
Siena College scores in the top 19% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
Siena College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $46,580/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $46,580/yr |
| Average net price | $33,733/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $134,932 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $76,079 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $46,000 |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,561 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $282 |
| Estimated payback period | 6.7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 74.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 3,409 |
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: $46,580/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $33,733/year, or roughly $134,932 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 $26,417/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $37,704/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $26,561, which works out to about $282 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($46,000) and comes to 0.58, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
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 | $26,417 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $28,044 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $29,118 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $34,818 |
| $110,001+ | $37,704 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 bracket pays $26,417 per year at Siena. Four-year cost around $105,700 against $46,000 average 6-year earnings is a heavy burden.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $29,118, and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $34,818. At $29,000-$35,000 annually, four-year costs of $116,000-$139,000 require careful program selection to justify.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $37,704 per year. Four-year cost around $151,000 is significant.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Siena College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $63,227 | D |
| Marketing | $69,793 | C+ |
| Accounting | $78,337 | C+ |
| Finance and Financial Management | $88,623 | C+ |
| Biology | $73,491 | D |
| International Relations | $63,075 | D |
| Business Administration and Management | $72,369 | C |
| English Language and Literature | $59,280 | D |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $91,712 | B |
| Economics | $90,802 | 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 and Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences is Siena's top-performing program: 29 graduates, $64,677 year-one, $91,712 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.353 (ROI grade B) with $22,836 median debt. The four-year trajectory above $91k reflects placement in the Capital Region and broader Northeast tech markets. Siena CS is not a large program. The moderate debt load makes this defensible even at private tuition.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance produces 59 graduates with $54,056 year-one and $88,623 at year four, C+ ROI grade, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.499 with $27,000 median debt. The four-year trajectory above $88k is strong for a regional private college. Finance graduates from Siena access the Albany financial services market and, with proximity to New York City, can tap broader opportunities. The C+ grade reflects the $27,000 debt load against year-one earnings.
Accounting
Accounting is a Siena strength with 61 graduates, $49,463 year-one, $78,337 at year four, C+ ROI grade, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.526 with $26,000 median debt. Siena's accounting program feeds into the CPA pipeline and regional public accounting firms. The four-year trajectory to $78k reflects advancement to management and senior accountant roles. The C+ ROI grade rather than B reflects the high sticker tuition driving up debt.
Psychology
Psychology is the largest program at 85 graduates with a D ROI grade: $32,022 year-one, $63,227 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.843 with $27,000 median debt. The four-year figure of $63k is more respectable but takes four years to reach. Psychology at Siena is viable as a graduate school pipeline; as a standalone career credential at private-school prices, the numbers do not add up.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 82.2% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 86.4% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 86.3% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 89.4% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Siena 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 | 69.0% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 560-680 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 550-680 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 27-33 |
| Enrollment | 3,409 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 24.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,661 |
Siena admits 69.0% of applicants. The SAT 560-680 Math and 550-680 Reading ranges describe a moderately selective bar. ACT 27-33 composite is notable - the 75th percentile at 33 is quite high for this admission rate, suggesting a bimodal distribution. Students with ACT composite below 25 should treat this application cautiously.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Siena's 74.7% completion rate and 86.4% repayment rate are its strongest metrics.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Siena College (this school) | 75 | $33,733 | $76,079 |
| Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | 94 | $29,882 | $131,426 |
| Lewis University | 77 | $17,028 | $66,099 |
| Bradley University | 75 | $22,719 | $66,852 |
| Adelphi University | 75 | $30,783 | $75,482 |
| Widener University | 74 | $25,759 | $70,920 |
Who Thrives Here
Siena College admits 69.0% of applicants. SAT mid-ranges are 560-680 Math and 550-680 Reading; ACT composite 27-33. Enrollment is 3,409. The Pell grant rate of 24.5% reflects a largely middle- and upper-middle-income student body. The campus culture emphasizes service, community, and faith. Students drawn to business, accounting, or health sciences who also want a residential liberal arts experience will find a reasonable match. Students choosing Siena purely on financial grounds should note the high sticker price against the 6.7-year payback.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, Siena College pays off. You'd pay about $33,733 a year after aid ($134,932 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $76,079 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 6.7 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: its 74.7% graduation rate, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $26,561 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $46,000 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.58, 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.
Siena College: Common Questions
Is Siena College worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Siena College pays off. It scores 75/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $33,733 a year after aid ($134,932 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $76,079 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 6.7 years to earn back.
How much does Siena 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 $33,733 a year, or roughly $134,932 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 Siena College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $76,079 ten years after enrolling, roughly $34,279 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 Siena 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 6.7 years for Siena College. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Siena College graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $26,561, against average earnings of $46,000 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.58. 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 Siena College?
The six-year graduation rate is 74.7%, 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.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
From CampusROI, when there is something worth acting on.
Rankings & Links
Guides & Tools
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.