University at Albany
Albany, New York · Public · 69.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 79/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University at Albany scores 79 (Strong Value) on the CampusROI scale. The score reflects a 6.3-year payback period, a 48.0% earnings premium, a 0.476 debt-to-earnings ratio, and a 74.0% repayment rate. In-state tuition is $10,866 with a net price of $17,167 - solid for a large research university. The 61.5% completion rate is the institution's weakest metric, holding back an otherwise strong value profile. Average 6-year earnings of $41,000 rise sharply to a median $67,979 at 10 years, reflecting the Albany graduates' strong career trajectory. The best-performing programs are Applied Mathematics (grade B+, $65,604 year-one), Accounting (100 grads, $55,124 year-one, $98,010 year-four, grade B), Business Administration (321 grads, $48,605 year-one, grade B), and Computer and Information Sciences (132 grads, $49,759 year-one, grade C+). Fine and Studio Arts (35 grads, $20,116 year-one, debt-to-earnings 1.125) earns an F. Biology (207 grads, $32,099 year-one) and Psychology (321 grads, $30,456 year-one) both earn D grades - large programs whose volume suppresses the institutional average. The Scorecard does not report SAT or ACT score ranges for Albany.
University at Albany scores in the top 14% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
University at Albany
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $10,866/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $31,256/yr |
| Average net price | $17,167/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $68,668 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $67,979 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $41,000 |
| Median debt at graduation | $19,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $207 |
| Estimated payback period | 6.3 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 61.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 12,564 |
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: $10,866/year ($31,256/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 $17,167/year, or roughly $68,668 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 $11,112/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $24,085/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 ($41,000) and comes to 0.48, 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 | $11,112 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $14,062 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $17,923 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $20,037 |
| $110,001+ | $24,085 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $11,112 per year at Albany. The 30001-48000 bracket pays $14,062. The 61.5% completion rate is the risk to monitor. Students who complete accounting or business at Albany at $11,000 per year are accessing a good public-university deal.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $17,923 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $20,037. The progression across income brackets is gradual. At $18,000-$20,000 per year, Albany's outcomes in business, accounting, and homeland security are clearly worth the investment.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $24,085 per year at Albany - a four-year total near $96,000. The accounting and business outcomes ($98,010 and $76,633 year-four) are competitive at this price. For arts, humanities, and social science students, $96,000 over four years for outcomes in the D-grade range requires careful evaluation against less expensive commuter or transfer pathways.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University at Albany with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $76,633 | B |
| Psychology | $55,004 | D |
| Biology | $58,703 | D |
| Economics | $63,331 | C |
| Homeland Security | $69,365 | C |
| Communication and Media Studies | $59,724 | D |
| Sociology | $57,508 | D |
| International Relations | $64,270 | C |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $80,285 | C+ |
| Accounting | $98,010 | 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.
Accounting
Accounting is Albany's highest-performing graded program with confirmed graduate counts: 100 graduates, $55,124 year-one, $98,010 at year four, grade B on $24,000 debt. The year-four trajectory to $98,010 is exceptional - suggesting that Albany accounting graduates advance aggressively into CPA-track and corporate accounting roles. At a $17,167 net price, the payback on $24,000 in median debt is approximately 5 years, and the year-four earnings reflect genuine career leverage. Albany's Massry School of Business has employer relationships in the Albany-NYC corridor that contribute to these outcomes.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration produces 321 graduates annually with $48,605 year-one and $76,633 at year four, grade B on $20,500 debt. The volume and the outcomes make this one of Albany's signature programs. At $17,167 net price, the payback on $20,500 debt is approximately 5 years. Students choosing between Albany and a private business school in the Northeast should evaluate the cost difference carefully.
Psychology
Psychology earns a D grade: 321 graduates - tied with business as Albany's largest program by graduate count - at $30,456 year-one, $55,004 at year four, debt-to-earnings 0.724 on $22,056 median debt. At $30,456 year-one in the Albany, NY market, psychology graduates face real cost-of-living pressure. The D grade reflects that the earnings premium from a psychology bachelor's does not cleanly justify even a public school price point. Albany psychology graduates who plan for graduate school - particularly in clinical, counseling, or I/O psychology - have a better financial trajectory than those who stop at the bachelor's.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 69.3% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 74.0% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 76.7% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 79.7% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University at Albany’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 | 69.1% |
| Enrollment | 12,564 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 43.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,012 |
Albany's admission rate is 69.1%. For business and accounting students, Albany's program outcomes at this net price are genuinely strong.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University at Albany (this school) | 79 | $17,167 | $67,979 |
| CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | 92 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
| University of Maryland-Baltimore County | 84 | $16,467 | $69,960 |
| CUNY Brooklyn College | 81 | $3,103 | $60,752 |
| University of Rhode Island | 79 | $21,440 | $69,743 |
| University of Vermont | 78 | $19,343 | $62,472 |
Who Thrives Here
Albany admits 69.1% of applicants. The Scorecard does not report standardized test score ranges for this institution. The university has a strong reputation in criminal justice, homeland security, and public policy - programs that attract students pursuing government and public sector careers. Business, accounting, and information technology programs produce the strongest private sector outcomes.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, University at Albany pays off. You'd pay about $17,167 a year after aid ($68,668 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $67,979 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 6.3 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 $19,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $41,000 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48, 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.
University at Albany: Common Questions
Is University at Albany worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students University at Albany pays off. It scores 79/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $17,167 a year after aid ($68,668 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $67,979 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 6.3 years to earn back.
How much does University at Albany 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 $17,167 a year, or roughly $68,668 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 University at Albany graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $67,979 ten years after enrolling, roughly $26,179 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 University at Albany?
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 6.3 years for University at Albany. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University at Albany graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $19,500, against average earnings of $41,000 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48. 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 University at Albany?
The six-year graduation rate is 61.5%. 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.