Farmingdale State College

Farmingdale State College prices affordably across income levels, with costs that shift meaningfully by family financial situation. Low-income families pay approximately $4,933 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $11,834, and higher-income families pay closer to $17,919.

Azimuth ranks Farmingdale State College #86 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. As a public institution in New York, Farmingdale State College benefits from a state-supported tuition structure that keeps headline costs well below those of comparable private institutions, and the [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) is less pronounced here than at schools where sticker price diverges sharply from what families actually pay.

Need-based aid plays a meaningful role in shaping what students pay, particularly for lower-income families. The college participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and New York's Excelsior Scholarship and TAP programs provide additional grant support for qualifying in-state students that can reduce net price further.

Families weighing total cost should account for the full cost of attendance of $18,966, which includes living expenses beyond tuition and fees — a figure that reflects the higher cost-of-living environment of the New York metro area. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $14,718, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $18,349; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.

For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $65,444, median federal debt of $14,718 projects to a monthly payment of about $166 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).

Graduates of Farmingdale State College earn median 4-year earnings of $65,444, placing Farmingdale State College in the 70.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $3,352 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 44.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Azimuth ranks Farmingdale State College #856 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Program outcomes vary by major.

Business Administration, Management and Operations reports 353 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $61,497, ranked #165 nationally in its major. Science, Technology and Society reports 267 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $54,746, ranked #4 nationally in its major.

Security Science and Technology reports 180 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $60,464, ranked #3 nationally in its major. Computer Programming reports 136 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $71,665, ranked #4 nationally in its major.

Farmingdale State College's program mix is anchored in Business, with applied-professional and health-oriented fields rounding out the degree portfolio. Business Administration is the largest program with 353 graduates, followed by Science, Technology and Society (267 graduates), Security Science and Technology (180 graduates), Computer Game Programming (136 graduates), and Nursing (82 graduates).

Across 27 programs serving roughly 1,777 students annually, 19 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold. Business accounts for 22% of graduates, Arts represents 2%, and Social Sciences makes up 1% — a distribution that reflects the institution's applied-career orientation.

The highest-earning programs cluster in nursing and technical fields. Azimuth ranks Nursing #81 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with graduates earning $108,029.

Azimuth ranks Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians #5 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with graduates earning $91,941. Construction Engineering Technology/Technician graduates earn $89,913, and Azimuth ranks the program #16 among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Business Administration combines strong enrollment scale with solid pay, making it a key driver of the institution's overall earnings profile. Several of these programs feed directly into workforce-ready careers where median four-year earnings reflect actual labor-market outcomes — particularly nursing, construction management, and business fields where employer demand on Long Island and across the New York metro area remains steady.

Programs like Security Science and Technology and Computer Game Programming serve students seeking applied credentials that translate into immediate employment. The supply-demand map provides broader context for how Farmingdale State College's dominant program families align with national hiring trends.