SUNY College at Potsdam
Potsdam, New York · Public · 77.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 35/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
SUNY Potsdam, a small public residential college in far-northern New York's St. Lawrence County, posts a Below Benchmark ROI score of 35/100. The composite is hurt badly by the school's concentration in arts, education, and humanities programs that produce modest earnings. Average earnings six years after entry are just $31,100, climbing to a median $47,866 by year ten. Median federal debt of $24,250 against those earnings produces a 0.78 debt-to-earnings ratio and a 15.1-year payback period. In-state tuition is $8,768 and the average net price is $13,624, totaling $54,496 over four years - genuinely affordable. The 66.1% three-year repayment rate is below the healthy threshold. Potsdam's signature Crane School of Music is renowned but produces predictable F-grade ROI given music career earnings.
How SUNY College at Potsdam scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- ROI Score35/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- Payback period15.1 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
SUNY College at Potsdam
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $8,768/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $18,678/yr |
| Average net price | $13,624/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $54,496 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $47,866 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $31,100 |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,250 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $257 |
| Estimated payback period | 15.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 45.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,823 |
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: $8,768/year ($18,678/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 $13,624/year, or roughly $54,496 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 $8,623/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $20,041/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $24,250, which works out to about $257 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($31,100) and comes to 0.78, 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 | $8,623 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $8,684 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $14,524 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $15,513 |
| $110,001+ | $20,041 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $8,623 net per year, and the $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $8,684. Pell and NY TAP aid stack effectively. Four-year out-of-pocket near $35,000 is genuine affordability.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket jumps to $14,524 and $75,001-$110,000 pays $15,513. The cost ramp is steep at the middle.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Households above $110,000 pay $20,041 per year, $80,164 over four years. Still well below private-school territory. For full-pay NY families the school's value rests on the Crane School pipeline, the residential rural experience, or specific teacher education intent.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at SUNY College at Potsdam with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $57,949 | C |
| Psychology | $48,601 | D |
| Teacher Education | $53,834 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $57,066 | D |
| Music | $36,677 | F |
| Biology | $49,725 | D |
| History | $45,234 | C |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $53,597 | D |
| Communication and Media Studies | $43,686 | D |
| Natural Resources Conservation | $27,586 | 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
Teacher Education (subject-specific) is Potsdam's largest program (121 grads) and earns a C ROI grade. First-year earnings of $45,110 climb to $57,949 by year four with $27,000 of median debt, producing a 0.599 ratio. New York's relatively high starting teacher salaries support placement, particularly into North Country and Central New York districts. NYC public school hiring is also a real pipeline.
Psychology
Psychology (60 grads) earns a D ROI grade. First-year earnings of $27,825 against $26,525 of median debt produce a 0.953 debt-to-earnings ratio. Four-year earnings of $48,601 reflect graduates who continue to graduate study. For terminal-bachelor's Psychology grads, career options in rural Northern New York are limited.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education (general) is the second-largest cohort (52 grads) and earns a D ROI grade. First-year earnings of $36,487 against $27,000 of median debt produce a 0.74 ratio. The four-year figure of $53,834 reflects upstate NY teacher salary schedules. Loan forgiveness for high-need districts can improve effective ROI.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (51 grads) earns a D ROI grade. First-year earnings of $36,555 climb to $57,066 by year four. Four-year earnings recover but the geographic isolation of Potsdam works against placement; many graduates relocate to Syracuse, Albany, or NY metro to find competitive positions.
Music
Music (44 grads) is part of Potsdam's renowned Crane School of Music, but earns an F ROI grade. First-year earnings of $23,902 against $27,000 of median debt produce a 1.13 debt-to-earnings ratio.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 60.1% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 66.1% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 62.1% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 68.4% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How SUNY College at Potsdam’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 | 77.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,823 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 40.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,383 |
SUNY Potsdam admits 77.7% of applicants and does not currently report SAT or ACT mid-ranges in Scorecard data, having moved test-optional. The high admit rate combined with the absence of test data signals an access-mission residential college, and the 45.3% completion rate confirms that the wide academic band struggles with persistence in the remote North Country environment. Students with stronger preparation cluster in the music and teacher education tracks.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUNY College at Potsdam (this school) | 35 | $13,624 | $47,866 |
| CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | 92 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
| CUNY Brooklyn College | 81 | $3,103 | $60,752 |
| New Mexico Highlands University | 39 | $14,838 | $45,937 |
| Montana State University Billings | 34 | $16,524 | $44,296 |
| Massachusetts College of Art and Design | 29 | $24,100 | $43,582 |
Who Thrives Here
Pell rate of 40.3% and enrollment of 1,823 mark Potsdam as a small, rural, mid-income leaning SUNY college. The school fits New York students seeking the Crane School of Music, strong arts programs, or teacher education in a residential small-college setting. Geographic isolation works against career outcomes for non-music graduates: there's no nearby metro labor market to absorb regional alumni. Students declared in Music Education (the strongest combined Crane+education pathway) and Teacher Education capture most of the school's value proposition.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, SUNY College at Potsdam scores 35/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $13,624 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $47,866 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 15.1 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What to keep an eye on: its 45.3% graduation rate, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.78 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 66.1% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $24,250 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $31,100 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.78. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
SUNY College at Potsdam: Common Questions
Is SUNY College at Potsdam worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. SUNY College at Potsdam scores 35/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $13,624 a year after aid against $47,866 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 15.1 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does SUNY College at Potsdam 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 $13,624 a year, or roughly $54,496 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 Potsdam graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $47,866 ten years after enrolling, roughly $6,066 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 Potsdam?
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 15.1 years for SUNY College at Potsdam. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do SUNY College at Potsdam graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $24,250, against average earnings of $31,100 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.78. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at SUNY College at Potsdam?
The six-year graduation rate is 45.3%. 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.
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.