State University of New York at Plattsburgh
Plattsburgh, New York · Public · 78.4% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 59/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
SUNY Plattsburgh is a public comprehensive university in upstate New York, enrolling 3,769 students and earning an overall ROI score of 59 - Below Average Value. Average six-year earnings of $34,800 and a payback period of 9.7 years reflect the earnings constraints of a small regional campus whose graduates largely serve upstate New York and Vermont labor markets. Ten-year median earnings of $56,403 show meaningful earnings growth, but the long payback horizon means graduates spend most of their first decade recovering the investment. The 41% Pell Grant rate indicates a moderate-to-high need student population. Registered Nursing is the strongest program with first-year earnings of $76,152 (B+ grade). Accounting, Business Administration, and Management Information Systems all earn C+ grades. Psychology, with 80 graduates, earns a D grade with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.789. Communication Disorders Sciences earns an F grade.
State University of New York at Plattsburgh
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $9,035/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $18,945/yr |
| Average net price | $17,156/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $68,624 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $56,403 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $34,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,196 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $225 |
| Estimated payback period | 9.7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 58.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 3,769 |
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: $9,035/year ($18,945/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 $17,156/year, or roughly $68,624 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 $9,400/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $24,611/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $21,196, which works out to about $225 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($34,800) and comes to 0.61, 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 | $9,400 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $12,121 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $17,076 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $17,655 |
| $110,001+ | $24,611 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Low-income students (families under $30,000) pay approximately $9,400 annually at net price - close to in-state tuition, indicating limited institutional grant supplementation for this group. Over four years, the total cost is roughly $37,600.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income students ($30,001 - $75,000) pay between $12,121 and $17,076 annually - a range that reflects modest institutional aid and the cost-of-attendance impact of room and board in Plattsburgh's residential model. At $48,000 - $68,000 over four years, the total cost is competitive for a four-year residential public institution. The payback period remains nearly a decade at median earnings, and students in lower-earning programs will take longer. Nursing and MIS graduates will recover costs faster.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income families ($75,001 and above) pay $17,655 - $24,611 annually - approaching full cost of attendance for higher earners.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at State University of New York at Plattsburgh with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting | $70,109 | C+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $70,499 | C+ |
| Psychology | $50,673 | D |
| Teacher Education | $55,996 | - |
| Registered Nursing | $92,095 | B+ |
| Biology | $67,359 | D |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $58,331 | D |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $45,121 | D |
| Marketing | $69,684 | C+ |
| Social Work | $59,925 | 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.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing earns a B+ grade with first-year median earnings of $76,152 and four-year earnings of $92,095. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.335 is well-controlled. With 56 graduates, the cohort is statistically meaningful. New York state's broad healthcare market, combined with proximity to Vermont and the Montreal area, creates multiple regional placement corridors for Plattsburgh nursing graduates. Nursing is the clearest high-return program at the institution and a primary reason to consider SUNY Plattsburgh at this price point.
Accounting
Accounting earns a C+ grade with first-year median earnings of $51,243 and four-year earnings of $70,109. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.519 is moderate. With 116 graduates, this is one of Plattsburgh's highest-volume programs with reliable statistical signal. Accounting graduates who obtain CPA licensure can access the broader New York state and national accounting labor market, meaningfully expanding their earning opportunity beyond the local campus region. At $17,156 net price, accounting is a defensible investment if the student pursues professional credentialing.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration earns a C+ grade with first-year earnings of $41,410 and four-year earnings of $70,499. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.549 is moderate. With 109 graduates, this is a large, statistically robust cohort. Business graduates from Plattsburgh primarily enter the regional upstate New York economy in management, retail, finance, and public sector roles. The four-year earnings of $70,499 indicate meaningful long-run earnings growth above the $34,800 institutional average, suggesting business graduates outperform the average Plattsburgh alumnus.
Psychology
Psychology earns a D grade with first-year earnings of $29,147 and four-year earnings of $50,673. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.789 indicates significant debt relative to early wages. With 80 graduates, this is a high-confidence cohort. Psychology graduates who do not pursue graduate study face the structural earnings limitations common across the undergraduate psychology labor market. Students planning on graduate education in counseling, clinical, or school psychology should carefully model total cost across both the undergraduate and graduate degree before committing to this pathway at Plattsburgh.
Management Information Systems
Management Information Systems earns a C+ grade with first-year earnings of $50,232 and four-year earnings of $85,677. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.494 is manageable. With 16 graduates, the cohort is small and should be treated directionally. The four-year earnings figure of $85,677 significantly exceeds the $68,624 four-year cost estimate - one of Plattsburgh's stronger documented program-level returns.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 64.8% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 69.6% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 67.7% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 71.9% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How State University of New York at Plattsburgh’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 | 78.4% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 540-610 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 540-640 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 22-28 |
| Enrollment | 3,769 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 40.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,116 |
SUNY Plattsburgh admits 78% of applicants, with SAT scores of 540 - 610 math and 540 - 640 reading, and ACT of 22 - 28. The accessible admissions profile serves a range of academic backgrounds.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| State University of New York at Plattsburgh (this school) | 59 | $17,156 | $56,403 |
| CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | 92 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
| CUNY Brooklyn College | 81 | $3,103 | $60,752 |
| Westfield State University | 63 | $16,721 | $57,346 |
| Northeastern Illinois University | 56 | $14,109 | $52,234 |
| Vermont State University | 55 | $18,212 | $50,331 |
Who Thrives Here
The institution is well-suited for students pursuing nursing, business, or accounting who plan to work in the upstate New York or Vermont regional economy. Students choosing Plattsburgh for its outdoor environment or lifestyle appeal should understand that the Below Average Value score is partly driven by the rural labor market context. Program selection is critical to managing the 9.7-year payback period.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for State University of New York at Plattsburgh is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $17,156 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $56,403 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 9.7 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What to keep an eye on: a three-year loan repayment rate of 69.6% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $21,196 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $34,800 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.61, 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 Plattsburgh: Common Questions
Is State University of New York at Plattsburgh worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. State University of New York at Plattsburgh scores 59/100 on our ROI scale. At $17,156 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $56,403 ten years after entry, so it takes about 9.7 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does State University of New York at Plattsburgh 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 $17,156 a year, or roughly $68,624 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 Plattsburgh graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $56,403 ten years after enrolling, roughly $14,603 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 Plattsburgh?
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 9.7 years for State University of New York at Plattsburgh. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do State University of New York at Plattsburgh graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $21,196, against average earnings of $34,800 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.61. 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 Plattsburgh?
The six-year graduation rate is 58.5%. 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.