SUNY Oneonta
Oneonta, New York · Public · 69.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 72/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
SUNY Oneonta scores 72 (Fair Value) on the CampusROI scale. In-state tuition of $8,831 and net price of $19,158 provide a cost-efficient foundation. Average 6-year earnings of $35,600 and a 68.8% completion rate produce a 8.5-year payback. Median debt of $19,812 is moderate. The program distribution runs from Accounting ($63,674 year-one, B grade) at the top to Drama/Theatre (F grade, debt-to-earnings 1.235), Visual and Performing Arts (F grade, debt-to-earnings 1.267), and Ethnic Studies (F grade) at the bottom. Business Information Systems is the largest named program at 149 graduates ($41,859 year-one, $70,986 at year four, C+ grade). Teacher Education is the largest by volume (195 graduates) but earns a D grade with year-four earnings of $58,496. The SUNY Oneonta student body is broadly representative of New York State, with a 36% Pell rate. The 82.3% three-year repayment rate is solid, indicating that most graduates who borrow manage their debt reasonably.
SUNY Oneonta
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $8,831/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $19,781/yr |
| Average net price | $19,158/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $76,632 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $60,386 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $35,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $19,812 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $210 |
| Estimated payback period | 8.5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 68.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 4,643 |
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: $8,831/year ($19,781/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 $19,158/year, or roughly $76,632 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 $11,044/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $25,382/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $19,812, which works out to about $210 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($35,600) and comes to 0.56, 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 | $11,044 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $14,427 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $19,189 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $20,552 |
| $110,001+ | $25,382 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families in the $0-$30,000 bracket pay $11,044 per year at SUNY Oneonta. The $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $14,427. These are competitive net prices for a regional public college. At $11k per year for the lowest-income students, even modest earnings outcomes produce positive expected value. The 68.8% completion rate is the primary risk variable for low-income students, who are most financially harmed by non-completion.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $19,189 per year. The $75,001-$110,000 bracket pays $20,552. Middle-income families are approaching or at full in-state cost of attendance. The value case holds for students in higher-earning programs; arts, education, and humanities students at full cost face the longer end of the payback spectrum.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $25,382 per year at SUNY Oneonta - above in-state tuition, reflecting the full room, board, and fees burden.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at SUNY Oneonta with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Teacher Education | $58,496 | D |
| Psychology | $51,355 | C |
| Business Information Systems | $70,986 | C+ |
| Communication and Media Studies | $57,447 | D |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $66,128 | C+ |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $58,964 | C |
| Biology | $71,874 | C |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $36,119 | C |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management | $47,324 | D |
| Visual and Performing Arts | $47,321 | 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.
Accounting
Accounting is SUNY Oneonta's top-earning program: 13 graduates, $63,674 year-one, $90,128 at year four, B-grade ROI (debt-to-earnings 0.429) with median debt of $27,330. The small graduate count limits statistical confidence. The year-four trajectory to $90k reflects career progression into management accounting and CPA tracks. Against in-state net price, this is among Oneonta's best financial pathways despite the modest graduate volume.
Business Information Systems
Business Information Systems is Oneonta's largest named program at 149 graduates: $41,859 year-one, $70,986 at year four, C+-grade (debt-to-earnings 0.496) with median debt of $20,775. Year-one earnings of $41k are moderate. The four-year trajectory to $71k reflects business technology career growth. Against the in-state cost structure, the C+ grade indicates adequate but not strong returns.
Teacher Education, Subject-Specific
Teacher Education (Subject-Specific) earns 100 graduates, $36,776 year-one, $66,128 at year four, C+-grade (debt-to-earnings 0.518) with median debt of $19,032. Teacher education earns a C+ rather than a lower grade because of Oneonta's low in-state cost. New York State teaching certification pathways require additional graduate credits, which adds cost beyond the undergraduate degree.
Psychology
Psychology is Oneonta's second-largest program at 158 graduates: $32,845 year-one, $51,355 at year four, C-grade ROI (debt-to-earnings 0.677) with median debt of $22,250. The C grade is defensible but not strong. Students planning graduate or clinical careers should budget carefully for the additional education costs ahead.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 76.8% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 82.3% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 81.6% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 83.5% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How SUNY Oneonta’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 | 69.6% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 550-650 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 570-660 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 25-30 |
| Enrollment | 4,643 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 36.0% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,888 |
SUNY Oneonta admits 69.6% of applicants with SAT 550-650 Math and 570-660 Reading - moderately selective. New York in-state applicants benefit significantly from the $8,831 tuition rate. Out-of-state applicants at $19,781 face a less favorable financial case given the institution's mid-range earnings outcomes.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUNY Oneonta (this school) | 72 | $19,158 | $60,386 |
| CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | 92 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
| Ramapo College of New Jersey | 81 | $18,173 | $67,541 |
| CUNY Brooklyn College | 81 | $3,103 | $60,752 |
| University of Alabama in Huntsville | 69 | $18,796 | $61,767 |
| Winona State University | 69 | $17,503 | $58,532 |
Who Thrives Here
SUNY Oneonta admits 69.6% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 550-650 Math and 570-660 Reading; ACT composite 25-30. Pell rate of 36% reflects meaningful lower-income enrollment. Business, accounting, and computer science students will find better returns than arts and education graduates.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
SUNY Oneonta is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $19,158 a year after aid ($76,632 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $60,386 a decade out, the cost takes about 8.5 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: its 68.8% graduation rate, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $19,812 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $35,600 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56, 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 Oneonta: Common Questions
Is SUNY Oneonta worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether SUNY Oneonta is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 72/100 on our ROI scale. At $19,158 a year after aid ($76,632 over four years) against $60,386 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 8.5 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does SUNY Oneonta 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 $19,158 a year, or roughly $76,632 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 Oneonta graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $60,386 ten years after enrolling, roughly $18,586 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 Oneonta?
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 8.5 years for SUNY Oneonta. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do SUNY Oneonta graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $19,812, against average earnings of $35,600 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.56. 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 Oneonta?
The six-year graduation rate is 68.8%, 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.