Students at Utica University achieve earnings that consistently exceed expectations, reflecting the institution's focus on career-oriented programs with strong industry connections.
Graduates see meaningful financial returns that place the university among the top quarter nationally for long-term earnings performance.
Utica University is a mid-sized private nonprofit institution in upstate New York that has built a strong reputation around career-focused programs, particularly in healthcare, emergency management, and criminal justice. The university serves about 30% Pell Grant recipients and 32% first-generation students, providing meaningful access while maintaining academic quality. What distinguishes Utica is its ability to deliver above-average long-term earnings outcomes—graduates earn a median of $63,277 ten years after enrollment, placing the institution in the 76th percentile nationally for earnings performance.
The university's strength lies in its specialized program portfolio and strong industry connections. Nursing stands out as both the largest and highest-return program, graduating 370 students annually with median earnings of $69,457. Emergency management and criminal justice programs also provide direct pathways into stable public service careers. With a 55% six-year graduation rate and solid loan repayment patterns, Utica demonstrates consistent ability to help students complete degrees and transition successfully into their chosen fields.
As a "Selective Achievers" institution, Utica combines moderate selectivity with strong outcomes for the students it enrolls. The university's focus on professional preparation, combined with its location in central New York, creates a learning environment where students can build practical skills while accessing internships and job opportunities throughout the region.
Utica University's program portfolio reflects a clear strategic focus on healthcare, public safety, and emergency services—fields that offer job security, professional licensing, and predictable career advancement. Adult Health Nursing dominates both enrollment and outcomes, graduating 370 students annually with strong median earnings of $69,457. This program alone accounts for much of Utica's overall earnings performance and demonstrates the university's deep expertise in healthcare education.
Crisis and Emergency Management, the second-largest program with 148 graduates, represents Utica's unique positioning in a specialized field with growing national importance. While median earnings of $43,240 are more modest, graduates enter a field with strong job security and opportunities for advancement in both public and private sectors. Criminal justice programs, including Corrections Administration, provide additional pathways into stable public service careers.
The university's program mix reflects a deliberate focus on professional preparation rather than broad liberal arts education. While some programs like General Health Sciences show lower early earnings at $25,194, they often serve as stepping stones to graduate programs or specialized certifications. This concentration in career-focused fields creates a coherent institutional identity that helps students understand exactly what they're preparing for and gives employers confidence in Utica graduates' practical skills and professional readiness.
Utica University graduates achieve solid long-term financial outcomes that reflect the institution's focus on career-oriented programs. Ten years after enrollment, graduates earn a median of $63,277, with the university ranking in the 76th percentile nationally for earnings performance. Graduates also earn about $4,907 more than similar students at comparable institutions, demonstrating meaningful earnings beyond expectations that help justify the investment in a private education.
The university's return on investment is driven primarily by its healthcare programs, which dominate both enrollment and earnings outcomes. Adult Health Nursing, the institution's flagship program, graduates 370 students annually with median earnings of $69,457, making it both the largest and highest-return major. Crisis and Emergency Management, the second-largest program with 148 graduates, leads to median earnings of $43,240 in a specialized field with strong job security. Criminal justice programs, including Corrections Administration, provide stable public service career paths with earnings around $39,467.
While some programs like General Health Sciences show more modest early earnings at $25,194, the overall portfolio reflects Utica's strategic focus on fields with clear employment pathways and professional licensing requirements. This concentration in healthcare, public safety, and emergency services creates a coherent academic identity that translates into predictable career outcomes for most graduates.
Affordability at Utica University reflects typical private college pricing, with net costs varying significantly by family income level. Low-income students pay about $16,485 annually after aid, while middle-income families see costs around $19,670 per year. High-income families face the full private college experience at approximately $27,736 annually, which places Utica in the 39th percentile nationally for affordability—meaning costs run somewhat higher than many peer institutions.
The university's financial aid strategy focuses on making education accessible for students from modest backgrounds while expecting higher-income families to pay closer to full price. Most students who borrow take on federal student loans averaging $22,500, a manageable level given the university's solid earnings outcomes. Parent PLUS borrowing averages $21,504, reflecting the reality that many families need to contribute significantly to cover private college costs.
What makes Utica's pricing sustainable is the combination of strong career outcomes and reasonable debt levels. With graduates earning over $63,000 ten years out and maintaining a 0% federal loan default rate, most borrowers can handle their debt obligations comfortably. The university's loan repayment patterns show that borrowers pay down balances faster than national averages, with strong performance in early years that suggests graduates find stable employment relatively quickly after graduation.
Utica University Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
