SUNY College of Technology at Canton
Canton, New York · Public · 92.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 36/100 · Poor Value
SUNY Canton, a public technology college in upstate New York's North Country, scores 36 (Poor Value) - a number that mainly reflects weak completion (38.5%) and modest earnings outcomes ($47,860 ten years out) more than excessive cost. Tuition of $8,742 in-state is genuinely affordable, but the $15,268 net price tells a different story - net price exceeds tuition because non-tuition costs (housing, fees, supplies) dominate for many students. $20,000 median debt against the modest earnings produces a 0.635 D/E ratio and 15.6-year payback period. Repayment rate of 62.2% is weak, suggesting many graduates rely on income-driven repayment. The school's veterinary tech, allied health, and nursing programs are its strongest professional pipelines. With 2,741 students and 50% Pell rate, SUNY Canton serves a heavily low-income North Country and Adirondack-region student body. The school's career-tech mission is real, but the rural labor market caps the upside. As of 2024-2025 Scorecard data, SUNY Canton is a reasonable value for students who choose its strong vocational programs and a weak one for those drifting into its general business and liberal-arts tracks.
The data raises concerns about SUNY College of Technology at Canton
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score36/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- 6-year graduation rate38.5% - Well below the 60% national average. Non-completion is the fastest route to negative ROI.
- Payback period15.6 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
SUNY College of Technology at Canton
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $8,742/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $13,572/yr |
| Average net price | $15,268/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $61,072 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $47,860 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $31,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $212 |
| Estimated payback period | 15.6 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 38.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,741 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at SUNY College of Technology at Canton is $8,742/year ($13,572/year out-of-state). But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $15,268/year, or roughly $61,072 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $10,908/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $22,077/year.
The median graduate leaves with $20,000 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $212 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $47,860 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.64 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
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 | $10,908 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $12,813 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $17,700 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $17,984 |
| $110,001+ | $22,077 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30K pay $10,908 net per year - reasonable for SUNY pricing. Pell and NY's Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) stack effectively. Total four-year cost approaches $44K. Workable for nursing and vet tech graduates; weaker for the general-track majors where earnings hit closer to $35K-$45K.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48K-$75K band pays $17,700 and the $75K-$110K band pays $17,984 - essentially the same, indicating a flat aid cliff in this range. Middle-income North Country families face roughly $71K in four-year cost. Reasonable for the school's strong vocational programs; tighter for general business or social-science paths.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110K pay $22,077 net per year - notably above the in-state tuition sticker, indicating aid is essentially zero. Total four-year cost approaches $88K. For high-income upstate families, the value proposition is weak; the rural labor market caps earnings and most students at this income level would be better served at SUNY's bigger campuses or the CUNY system for stronger career outcomes.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at SUNY College of Technology at Canton with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $59,700 | C |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $53,778 | C |
| Clinical Psychology | $51,077 | D |
| Homeland Security | $63,759 | C+ |
| Registered Nursing | $102,176 | B+ |
| Legal Support Services | $51,120 | C |
| Finance and Financial Management | $60,986 | C |
| Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians | $41,426 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $64,120 | C |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | $58,227 | B |
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
Nursing is SUNY Canton's strongest ROI: 32 graduates with $81,256 first-year earnings, $24,500 debt, and a 0.302 D/E ratio (B+ grade). Strong upstate NY nursing labor market plus the regulated license make this a high-confidence value path. Often the single best reason to attend SUNY Canton.
Health and Medical Administrative Services
Health Admin produces 78 graduates - the largest program - with $43,082 first-year earnings, $28,367 debt, and a 0.658 D/E ratio (C grade). Reasonable outcomes feeding upstate hospital and clinic administrative roles. Workable for students drawn to healthcare without nursing's clinical demands.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice enrolls 57 graduates with $37,702 first-year earnings, $23,936 debt, and a 0.635 D/E ratio (C grade). Feeds North Country corrections and state law enforcement. Reasonable for students with concrete career plans in regional public-sector security.
Homeland Security
Homeland Security produces 33 graduates with $48,753 first-year earnings, $24,617 debt, and a 0.505 D/E ratio (C+ grade). Among the stronger ROI paths thanks to federal employer pipelines (Border Patrol, CBP, ICE) in upstate New York. Defensible specialized vocational track.
Clinical Psychology
Clinical Psychology enrolls 36 graduates with $36,254 first-year earnings, $26,000 debt, and a 0.717 D/E ratio (D grade). Bachelor's-only psychology problem in rural-public context: modest earnings, meaningful debt, and limited graduate-school pipelines locally. Students need a clear master's plan to make this work.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 53.8% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 62.2% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 52.0% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 57.3% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 92.2% |
| Enrollment | 2,741 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 50.4% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,884 |
SUNY Canton admits 92.2% of applicants - effectively open access. The university does not report SAT or ACT mid-ranges in current Scorecard data. The 38.5% completion rate is weak, reflecting the school's open-access mission combined with persistence challenges typical of remote upstate New York vocational programs serving working-class first-generation students.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Among named peers, SUNY Canton's 36 ROI is below most regional publics. CUNY Baruch and CUNY Brooklyn score notably higher driven by NYC labor-market access. UNC Asheville posts a higher ROI with stronger liberal-arts earnings. Montana State-Billings and Southern Oregon University post comparable numbers - regional publics in remote locations with similar labor-market constraints. The peer comparison shows SUNY Canton's challenges are partly geographic; rural upstate New York simply doesn't deliver the earnings premiums that downstate or metropolitan publics enjoy.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUNY College of Technology at Canton (this school) | 36 | $15,268 | $47,860 |
| CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | 92 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
| CUNY Brooklyn College | 81 | $3,103 | $60,752 |
| Southern Oregon University | 37 | $16,732 | $49,175 |
| Montana State University Billings | 34 | $16,524 | $44,296 |
| University of North Carolina Asheville | 34 | $12,250 | $44,030 |
Who Thrives Here
SUNY Canton fits North Country New Yorkers, particularly Pell-eligible students seeking technology and applied-vocational credentials they couldn't otherwise access locally. With 50.4% Pell rate and 2,741 students, the campus is heavily working-class and rural. Strong fit for nursing, veterinary tech, and engineering-technology students who can leverage SUNY Canton's specialized programs. Weak fit for students choosing general business or psychology where outcomes lag and the rural labor market provides no earnings boost.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about SUNY College of Technology at Canton. With a net cost of $15,268 per year and median graduate earnings of only $47,860 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 15.6 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 38.5% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $20,000 against $47,860 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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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.