State University of New York at Cortland
Cortland, New York · Public · 59.8% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 65/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
SUNY Cortland posts a 65/100 ROI score in our Fair Value tier - a solid public outcome reflecting strong fundamentals on completion, payback, and repayment. Earnings of $38,100 six years out climb meaningfully to $60,236 by year ten - a 58% jump that reflects how Cortland's teacher-prep and health-professions concentrations pay off as graduates accumulate experience and credentials. Median debt of $21,500 against $38,100 early earnings yields a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56, well within the manageable zone. In-state tuition is $8,874, but the net price of $22,345 reflects significant room/board/fees on a residential campus, pushing four-year cost to $89,380. Three-year repayment rate of 76.1% is strong. With 5,901 students and a 27.4% Pell rate, Cortland serves a moderately middle-class population and delivers competent value. Earnings premium of 28.2% over high-school baseline confirms the degree pays.
State University of New York at Cortland
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $8,874/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $18,784/yr |
| Average net price | $22,345/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $89,380 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $60,236 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $38,100 |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $228 |
| Estimated payback period | 9.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 68.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 5,901 |
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: $8,874/year ($18,784/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 $22,345/year, or roughly $89,380 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 $12,550/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $25,853/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $21,500, which works out to about $228 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($38,100) and comes to 0.56, 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 | $12,550 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $16,453 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $20,102 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $21,636 |
| $110,001+ | $25,853 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $12,550 net - a strong number reflecting Pell, NY State TAP, and SUNY institutional aid. Across four years that's $50,200 against $38,100 early-career earnings - a defensible ratio especially with the 10-year earnings climbing to $60,236. The 76% three-year repayment rate suggests low-income borrowers do work down their balances.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $30,001 - $48,000 bracket pays $16,453, the $48,001 - $75,000 bracket pays $20,102, and the $75,001 - $110,000 bracket pays $21,636 - a clean monotonic progression with no inversions. Middle-income families pay $66,000-$86,000 over four years; the math works for students in teacher prep, kinesiology, or health professions but is tighter for liberal arts tracks.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $25,853 - about $103,400 across four years. That's modestly above the published $89,380 total cost. High-income families paying full freight at Cortland are buying a strong teacher-prep pipeline and central-NY residential experience; the value math is solid for vocational tracks but unremarkable for non-credential majors.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at State University of New York at Cortland with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $63,201 | C |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $56,466 | D |
| Teacher Education | $62,275 | C |
| Psychology | $56,366 | D |
| Special Education and Teaching | $74,079 | - |
| Business Information Systems | $66,644 | C |
| Communication and Media Studies | $63,431 | C |
| Communication Disorders Sciences | $62,122 | B |
| Political Science and Government | $56,593 | C |
| History | $51,043 | D |
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.
Teacher Education, Subject-Specific
Cortland's largest program (252 graduates) is a flagship subject-specific teacher prep track. First-year earnings of $42,132 climb to $63,201 by year four - a strong trajectory reflecting NY teacher salary schedules and Cortland's pipeline into Northeast school districts. Median debt of $25,837 yields a 0.61 debt-to-earnings ratio (C grade in the early years). For students committed to public-school teaching in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, this program is one of Cortland's most defensible value plays.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology graduates 247 students annually - Cortland's signature undergraduate program and a regional draw. First-year earnings of $28,289 against $25,681 median debt produce a 0.91 debt-to-earnings ratio (D grade), but four-year earnings climb to $56,466 as graduates move into PT/OT/PA programs, athletic training, or coaching roles. The first-year earnings figure understates outcomes for students who continue to graduate-level credentialing.
Teacher Education
Generalist teacher education adds another 160 graduates with first-year earnings of $37,979 climbing to $62,275 by year four - nearly identical trajectory to the subject-specific program. Median debt of $25,902 yields a 0.68 debt-to-earnings ratio (C grade). Combined with the subject-specific track, Cortland produces over 400 teachers per year.
Psychology
Psychology graduates 95 students with first-year earnings of $32,159 climbing to $56,366 by year four. Median debt of $23,616 produces a 0.73 debt-to-earnings ratio (D grade). As at most schools, the bachelor's-only psychology path is soft on early earnings; the four-year recovery suggests many graduates pursue counseling, school psych, or social work credentials within 2-4 years of graduation.
Business Information Systems
Business Info Systems graduates 89 students with first-year earnings of $40,517 climbing to $66,644 by year four - one of Cortland's strongest non-teaching programs. Median debt of $26,000 yields a 0.64 debt-to-earnings ratio (C grade).
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 70.4% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 76.1% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 79.1% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 82.0% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How State University of New York at Cortland’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 | 59.8% |
| Enrollment | 5,901 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 27.4% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,557 |
Cortland admits 59.8% of applicants. The 68% completion rate suggests admit standards align well with retention, and Cortland's strong teacher-prep and kinesiology programs draw students with clear vocational targets, which historically correlates with higher persistence.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Cortland's teacher-prep specialization gives it a predictable earnings ramp.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| State University of New York at Cortland (this school) | 65 | $22,345 | $60,236 |
| CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | 92 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
| CUNY Brooklyn College | 81 | $3,103 | $60,752 |
| University of Michigan-Dearborn | 72 | $9,492 | $59,649 |
| University of West Florida | 62 | $9,364 | $49,137 |
| University of Missouri-St Louis | 59 | $15,071 | $53,037 |
Who Thrives Here
Cortland fits students aimed at teaching, kinesiology, exercise science, communication disorders, or business information systems - vocational tracks with clear NY-state employment pipelines. The 5,901-student campus, 27.4% Pell rate, and central-NY rural setting make this a working-to-middle-class regional public with strong retention. Students who finish a teacher prep or health-pro track see median 10-year earnings near $60,000; students drifting through liberal arts without credentialing see noticeably weaker outcomes (Liberal Arts D grade, $44,687 four-year earnings).
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
State University of New York at Cortland is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $22,345 a year after aid ($89,380 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $60,236 a decade out, the cost takes about 9.1 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: its 68.0% graduation rate.
Median debt of $21,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $38,100 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56, 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.
State University of New York at Cortland: Common Questions
Is State University of New York at Cortland worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether State University of New York at Cortland is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 65/100 on our ROI scale. At $22,345 a year after aid ($89,380 over four years) against $60,236 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 9.1 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does State University of New York at Cortland 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 $22,345 a year, or roughly $89,380 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 State University of New York at Cortland graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $60,236 ten years after enrolling, roughly $18,436 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 State University of New York at Cortland?
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 9.1 years for State University of New York at Cortland. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do State University of New York at Cortland graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $21,500, against average earnings of $38,100 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56. 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 State University of New York at Cortland?
The six-year graduation rate is 68.0%, 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.