State University of New York at Oswego
Oswego, New York · Public · 80.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 65/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
SUNY Oswego scores 65 (Fair Value) on the CampusROI scale. Against $35,800 average 6-year earnings, the payback period is 9.1 years. Computer and Information Sciences earns a B+ grade ($70,607 year-one, $100,148 year-four), and Finance earns a B grade ($51,590 year-one). Business Administration (197 graduates, C+ grade) is the largest program. Three programs earn F grades: Film/Video (ratio 1.137), Drama (ratio 1.372), and Anthropology (ratio 1.361). Median debt of $20,880 is moderate but elevated relative to $35,800 average earnings. Criminal Justice (119 graduates, D grade) and Psychology (103 graduates, D grade) are large programs with weak financial outcomes.
State University of New York at Oswego
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $8,825/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $18,735/yr |
| Average net price | $16,236/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $64,944 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $57,566 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $35,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,880 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $221 |
| Estimated payback period | 9.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 60.4% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 5,473 |
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: $8,825/year ($18,735/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 $16,236/year, or roughly $64,944 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 $8,714/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $23,087/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $20,880, which works out to about $221 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($35,800) 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 | $8,714 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $11,681 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $17,412 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $19,053 |
| $110,001+ | $23,087 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $8,714 per year - roughly $34,856 over four years if completed. Against $35,800 average 6-year earnings and a 9.1-year payback, the financial case is workable for students who complete a technical or business program. The 60.4% completion rate creates meaningful dropout risk, particularly for low-income students who may face financial pressures mid-program.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $17,412 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $19,053. CS and accounting graduates will recover their cost faster; criminal justice and communication graduates will face longer payback windows.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000 or more pay $23,087 per year at SUNY Oswego. Against $35,800 average 6-year earnings, the high-income payback period is approximately 15 years for the median graduate.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at State University of New York at Oswego with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $66,048 | C+ |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $59,563 | D |
| Psychology | $52,023 | D |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $48,489 | D |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $59,412 | C |
| Marketing | $66,766 | C |
| Teacher Education | $57,622 | C |
| Biology | $58,932 | D |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $58,675 | C |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $38,429 | F |
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 earns a B+ grade: $70,607 year-one and $100,148 year-four with $24,115 median debt and a ratio of 0.342. Scorecard reports zero graduates in this cohort, which limits the reliability of these figures. If accurate, the year-one and year-four earnings are strong for a regional public university CS program, reflecting demand for tech talent in the New York state labor market. The ratio of 0.342 is solid given the $16,236 net price context.
Accounting
Accounting (37 graduates) earns a B grade: $50,439 year-one and $70,218 year-four with $21,500 median debt and a ratio of 0.426. Accounting is a reliable career-pathway program at regional public universities. The four-year trajectory to $70k reflects experienced accountants in public accounting or corporate finance roles.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (197 graduates) is the largest tracked program and earns a C+ grade: $45,569 year-one and $66,048 year-four with $24,006 median debt and a ratio of 0.527. The debt load is elevated relative to net price. The four-year trajectory to $66k reflects modest but functional career progression.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice and Corrections (119 graduates) earns a D grade: $34,561 year-one and $59,563 year-four with $25,788 median debt and a ratio of 0.746. Year-one earnings are modest against a high debt load, creating a constrained near-term financial situation. The four-year jump to $60k suggests career advancement into supervisory or specialized law enforcement roles. Students should expect the first several years after graduation to involve tight budgeting.
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology (16 graduates) earns a B grade with $59,427 at year four and $25,000 median debt (ratio 0.421). Scorecard does not report year-one earnings for this cohort. Year-four earnings of $59k are consistent with entry-level National Weather Service and broadcast meteorology roles. The B grade is strong for a niche science program.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 69.3% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 75.6% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 73.7% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 78.6% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How State University of New York at Oswego’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 | 80.5% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 540-640 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 530-630 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 23-29 |
| Enrollment | 5,473 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 39.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,147 |
At 80.6% admission, SUNY Oswego accepts most applicants. SAT mid-ranges are 540-640 Math and 530-630 Reading. The school's most distinctive program - Atmospheric Sciences/Meteorology - draws students with specific weather-science interests. Business and education are the large enrollment programs.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| State University of New York at Oswego (this school) | 65 | $16,236 | $57,566 |
| CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | 92 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
| CUNY Brooklyn College | 81 | $3,103 | $60,752 |
| Winona State University | 69 | $17,503 | $58,532 |
| University of Wisconsin-River Falls | 66 | $14,054 | $54,458 |
| Georgia College & State University | 62 | $20,686 | $58,140 |
Who Thrives Here
SUNY Oswego admits 80.6% of applicants and enrolls 5,473 students in Oswego, New York, on the shore of Lake Ontario. SAT mid-ranges are 540-640 Math and 530-630 Reading; ACT composite 23-29. Pell grant rate of 39.7% indicates significant low-to-middle income enrollment. The school is a comprehensive public university with particular strengths in meteorology, business, and education. Its location on Lake Ontario is relevant to the meteorology program specifically and creates a regionally distinctive academic environment.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
State University of New York at Oswego is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $16,236 a year after aid ($64,944 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $57,566 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: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates.
Median debt of $20,880 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $35,800 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.
State University of New York at Oswego: Common Questions
Is State University of New York at Oswego worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether State University of New York at Oswego is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 65/100 on our ROI scale. At $16,236 a year after aid ($64,944 over four years) against $57,566 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 Oswego 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 $16,236 a year, or roughly $64,944 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 Oswego graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $57,566 ten years after enrolling, roughly $15,766 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 Oswego?
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 Oswego. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do State University of New York at Oswego graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $20,880, against average earnings of $35,800 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 State University of New York at Oswego?
The six-year graduation rate is 60.4%. 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.