SUNY College at Geneseo
Geneseo, New York · Public · 66.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 82/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
SUNY Geneseo scores 82 (Strong Value) on the CampusROI scale, driven by a 6.6-year payback period and an in-state tuition of $8,999. Average 6-year earnings of $39,400 are moderate, but the low net price ($18,211) keeps the payback math workable. The 71.5% completion rate is solid for a public liberal arts school. Accounting leads on high-volume ROI with 34 graduates, $61,687 year-one, and $84,177 year-four at a B+ grade (debt-to-earnings 0.299). Physics and Chemistry post A and null-grade outcomes respectively with strong four-year figures. Business Administration (99 graduates, $78,286 year-four) is the largest program by volume with a C+ grade - respectable for a general business track. The institution's strengths lie in science and business programs with low debt. Weaker ROI programs include Psychology (159 graduates, D grade, debt-to-earnings 0.740), English (D), and History (D). The 10-year earnings of $67,316 suggest the degree appreciates over time.
SUNY College at Geneseo scores in the top 11% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
SUNY College at Geneseo
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $8,999/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $19,569/yr |
| Average net price | $18,211/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $72,844 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $67,316 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $39,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $19,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $207 |
| Estimated payback period | 6.6 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 71.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 3,869 |
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: $8,999/year ($19,569/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 $18,211/year, or roughly $72,844 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 $10,018/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $23,043/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $19,500, which works out to about $207 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($39,400) and comes to 0.49, 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 | $10,018 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $12,254 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $16,142 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $17,549 |
| $110,001+ | $23,043 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning $0-30,000 pay $10,018 net price at Geneseo - the lowest tier, reflecting SUNY's needs-based aid structure. At $10,018 per year, total 4-year cost for low-income students approximates $40,000 - well below median debt for many programs. This is a genuinely affordable entry point for New York students from lower-income households. The 71.5% completion rate is the primary risk factor; students who leave without a degree still carry debt.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $16,142 per year, and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $17,549. Both figures remain affordable relative to in-state public pricing norms. The $17,549 net price at the upper-middle bracket is a reasonable cost for the academic quality and outcomes data Geneseo shows.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $23,043 per year - still in range for a public institution. For families with children targeting business, accounting, or science, the outcomes data at this price point justify the investment. Out-of-state students at $19,569 tuition will see higher net prices and should recalculate accordingly.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at SUNY College at Geneseo with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $57,972 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $78,286 | C+ |
| Biology | $66,852 | C |
| Communication and Media Studies | $63,577 | C+ |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $62,420 | C |
| Teacher Education | $54,725 | C |
| Special Education and Teaching | $54,908 | C |
| Anthropology | $42,216 | - |
| English Language and Literature | $47,460 | D |
| International Relations | $66,670 | 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.
Accounting
Accounting is Geneseo's strongest high-volume ROI program: 34 graduates, $61,687 year-one, $84,177 year-four, debt-to-earnings 0.299, ROI grade B+. Median debt of $18,437 is low relative to starting earnings.
Physics
18 graduates, $77,575 four-year earnings, ROI grade A, debt-to-earnings 0.232 with median debt $18,000. Physics students largely pursue graduate school or enter computing, engineering, and finance roles that explain the strong four-year figure. The A grade reflects both high earnings and low debt. Small cohort size limits the statistical precision of the estimate, but the directional signal is consistent with national outcomes for physics graduates who continue to advanced study.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
The largest program by volume (99 graduates), earning $45,283 year-one and $78,286 year-four, ROI grade C+ with debt-to-earnings 0.453. The C+ grade comes with $20,500 median debt. Business generalists spread across many career tracks; the year-four figure of $78k suggests decent upward mobility. At Geneseo's in-state cost basis, this program is financially acceptable even at the C+ level.
Economics
25 graduates, $48,691 year-one, $84,529 year-four, ROI grade B with debt-to-earnings 0.428 and median debt $20,824. The four-year trajectory from $48k to $84k is strong - economics graduates from Geneseo move into finance, consulting, and graduate programs at rates that support this jump. The B grade reflects a combination of solid earnings and manageable debt. At in-state tuition, economics at Geneseo is a financially sound choice.
Biology
99 graduates, $31,060 year-one, $66,852 year-four, ROI grade C with debt-to-earnings 0.660. The low year-one figure is expected - biology graduates disproportionately enter graduate or professional school, suppressing near-term Scorecard earnings. The four-year jump to $66k suggests that students who complete advanced degrees are doing well. The C grade reflects the short-term earnings drag, not necessarily weak lifetime outcomes for students on the pre-med or research track.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 77.6% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 82.7% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 84.6% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 88.9% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How SUNY College at Geneseo’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 | 66.5% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 590-670 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 600-670 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 26-31 |
| Enrollment | 3,869 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 27.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,765 |
SAT Math 590-670 and Reading 600-670 describe the admitted middle half; ACT 26-31 composite. Students below the SAT mid-range are admitted but face steeper odds. Strong high school course rigor matters here - the admissions profile suggests a student body that engaged seriously with academics.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUNY College at Geneseo (this school) | 82 | $18,211 | $67,316 |
| CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | 92 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
| Rutgers University-Camden | 84 | $18,745 | $74,479 |
| The College of New Jersey | 83 | $27,646 | $73,323 |
| Ramapo College of New Jersey | 81 | $18,173 | $67,541 |
| CUNY Brooklyn College | 81 | $3,103 | $60,752 |
Who Thrives Here
SUNY Geneseo admits 66.4% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 590-670 Math and 600-670 Reading; ACT composite 26-31. Pell grant rate of 27.6% indicates a meaningful share of first-generation and lower-income students. Students drawn to teacher education, biology, psychology, and social sciences cluster here. Out-of-state students face a $19,569 tuition, which changes the net price calculus significantly and reduces the ROI advantage.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, SUNY College at Geneseo pays off. You'd pay about $18,211 a year after aid ($72,844 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $67,316 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 6.6 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 71.5% graduation rate, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $19,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $39,400 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49, 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.
SUNY College at Geneseo: Common Questions
Is SUNY College at Geneseo worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students SUNY College at Geneseo pays off. It scores 82/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $18,211 a year after aid ($72,844 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $67,316 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 6.6 years to earn back.
How much does SUNY College at Geneseo 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 $18,211 a year, or roughly $72,844 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 SUNY College at Geneseo graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $67,316 ten years after enrolling, roughly $25,516 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 SUNY College at Geneseo?
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 6.6 years for SUNY College at Geneseo. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do SUNY College at Geneseo graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $19,500, against average earnings of $39,400 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49. 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 SUNY College at Geneseo?
The six-year graduation rate is 71.5%, 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.