SUNY Polytechnic Institute
Utica, New York · Public · 81.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 79/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
SUNY Polytechnic Institute is a small public technical university in Utica, NY scoring 79 on the CampusROI scale - comfortably in the Strong Value tier. The cost stack is reasonable: $8,625 in-state tuition, $21,215 out-of-state, $14,164 average net price, and a $56,656 four-year total. Where SUNY Poly distinguishes itself is on outcomes: 10-year median earnings of $64,355 produce a strong 51.8% earnings premium (sub-score 90) and just a 6.7-year payback period (sub-score 85). Median debt of $17,250 against those earnings yields a 0.38 debt-to-earnings ratio (sub-score 89). Repayment at 75.9% (sub-score 57) is solid, and the 55.1% completion rate (sub-score 50) is the one moderate weakness. The earnings strength is structural - this is a STEM-heavy campus with engineering, computer science, and nursing as flagship programs, all of which post B-level or better ROI grades. The honest read: SUNY Poly is genuinely a strong ROI bet, particularly for in-state engineering and CS students.
SUNY Polytechnic Institute scores in the top 14% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
SUNY Polytechnic Institute
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $8,625/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $21,215/yr |
| Average net price | $14,164/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $56,656 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $64,355 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $45,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $17,250 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $183 |
| Estimated payback period | 6.7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 55.1% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,849 |
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: $8,625/year ($21,215/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 $14,164/year, or roughly $56,656 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 $7,442/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $20,613/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $17,250, which works out to about $183 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($45,200) and comes to 0.38, 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 | $7,442 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $9,561 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $13,934 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $15,876 |
| $110,001+ | $20,613 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $7,442 net annually - about $30,000 over four years. Combined with $64,355 of 10-year median earnings and a 6.7-year payback period, this is a clean low-income ROI case. Pell-eligible NY students should consider this an extraordinarily strong financial bet, particularly if pursuing engineering or nursing.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Households at $48,001-$75,000 pay $13,934 and $75,001-$110,000 pays $15,876 - $56,000-$64,000 over four years. The math here remains strongly favorable given the earnings outcomes.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $20,613 net, or about $82,000 over four years. Even at full-pay levels the ROI math holds up because of the strong earnings trajectory; SUNY Poly is one of the few public schools where the value case persists at the top income bracket, particularly for STEM-bound students.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at SUNY Polytechnic Institute with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $59,011 | C+ |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | $76,413 | B |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration | $70,052 | B |
| Mechanical Engineering | $87,788 | B |
| Registered Nursing | $108,014 | B+ |
| Civil Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $74,297 | B |
| Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $73,268 | C+ |
| Accounting | $55,821 | C |
| Psychology | $40,318 | C |
| Civil Engineering | $75,078 | 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 Poly's flagship ROI program. Graduates earn $80,210 at one year and $108,014 at four years against $21,500 of debt - a 0.27 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B+ grade. With 25 graduates per year this is a moderate-sized cohort. The four-year earnings figure is exceptional, reflecting upstate NY hospital wage scales (St. Elizabeth, MVHS, Faxton-St. Luke's) plus the option for graduates to relocate to NYC for substantially higher RN compensation.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering graduates earn $60,249 at one year and $87,788 at four years against $26,471 of debt - a 0.44 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B grade. With 26 graduates per year this is a meaningful cohort. The four-year earnings figure reflects strong placement into upstate NY manufacturing, defense, and the regional nanotech corridor (Albany NanoTech, GlobalFoundries Malta).
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer Science graduates earn $61,721 at one year and $85,180 at four years against $23,396 of debt - a 0.38 ratio and a B grade. Career paths span software engineering, system administration, and the upstate NY tech ecosystem. With 14 graduates per year this is a small but high-performing program.
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians
Mechanical Engineering Tech is the single largest engineering cohort at 38 graduates per year. Graduates earn $62,681 at one year and $76,413 at four years against $22,108 of debt - a 0.35 ratio and a B grade. The four-year earnings figure is strong for a tech-track (vs. pure engineering) credential and reflects solid manufacturing-sector placement.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business is the largest single program at 57 graduates per year. Graduates earn $41,684 at one year and $59,011 at four years against $19,500 of debt - a 0.47 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C+ grade. This is the strongest non-STEM ROI track on campus, with reasonable placement into upstate NY corporate roles. Earnings are notably below the engineering and CS cohorts but the lower debt load keeps the ratio competitive.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 72.7% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 75.9% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 67.6% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 70.1% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How SUNY Polytechnic Institute’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 | 81.3% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 520-690 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 505-680 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 22-30 |
| Enrollment | 1,849 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 39.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,835 |
SUNY Poly admits 81.4% of applicants, making it broadly accessible - selectivity is not the gating factor here. SAT mid-50% ranges of 520-690 math and 505-680 reading, with an ACT mid-range of 22-30, indicate an academically prepared student body, particularly at the upper ends of the math distribution. The 55% completion rate is moderate; students at the higher end of the academic profile are more likely to finish, and the engineering rigor screens out underprepared students post-enrollment.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUNY Polytechnic Institute (this school) | 79 | $14,164 | $64,355 |
| CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | 92 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
| CUNY Brooklyn College | 81 | $3,103 | $60,752 |
| South Dakota School of Mines and Technology | 81 | $20,183 | $72,257 |
| Charter Oak State College | 77 | $15,815 | $64,209 |
| University of Minnesota-Crookston | 75 | $12,212 | $58,056 |
Who Thrives Here
With 1,849 students, a 39.7% Pell rate, and an upstate NY tech-focused mission, SUNY Poly fits New York students - particularly those interested in engineering, computer science, and nursing - who want a public-school price tag and a STEM-heavy environment. Outcomes look exceptional in nursing ($108,014 four-year), engineering (multiple programs at $75,000-$87,800 four-year), and computer science ($85,180). The academic culture is engineering-disciplined; non-STEM majors like psychology and design pay relatively less return on the cost.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, SUNY Polytechnic Institute pays off. You'd pay about $14,164 a year after aid ($56,656 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $64,355 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 6.7 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, manageable debt relative to earnings.
Median debt of $17,250 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $45,200 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.38, 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 Polytechnic Institute: Common Questions
Is SUNY Polytechnic Institute worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students SUNY Polytechnic Institute pays off. It scores 79/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $14,164 a year after aid ($56,656 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $64,355 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 6.7 years to earn back.
How much does SUNY Polytechnic Institute 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 $14,164 a year, or roughly $56,656 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 Polytechnic Institute graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $64,355 ten years after enrolling, roughly $22,555 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 Polytechnic Institute?
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 6.7 years for SUNY Polytechnic Institute. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do SUNY Polytechnic Institute graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $17,250, against average earnings of $45,200 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.38. 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 Polytechnic Institute?
The six-year graduation rate is 55.1%. 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.