Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Farmingdale State College #127 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates 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. Farmingdale State College sits in the 44.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earn about $3,352 less than similar students at comparable institutions relative to similar students at comparable institutions. Farmingdale State College's composite ranking reflects a consistent pattern across return, affordability, and access — delivering median earnings that outpace most peers in the Azimuth coverage set while maintaining public-tuition pricing for students on Long Island. Graduates earn about $3,352 less than similar students at comparable institutions, a signal that the college's applied, career-focused programs — anchored by its dominant business and technology offerings — translate into stronger-than-expected financial outcomes for students who enroll.
Azimuth ranks Farmingdale State College #127 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Farmingdale, NY, Farmingdale State College enrolls roughly 9,552 undergraduates. Retention stands at 81.6% and the six-year graduation rate is 52.8%, figures that reflect steady degree completion for a baccalaureate-focused institution serving a largely commuter population on Long Island. What anchors Farmingdale State College in the composite is mobility. The institution sits in the 93.2 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions, driven by strong outcomes for the students it serves — 36.2% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 39.7% are first-generation college students. Affordability reinforces that story, with Farmingdale State College sitting in the 94.0 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The dominant program family is Business, and the institution's applied, career-oriented curriculum channels graduates into regional labor markets where practical credentials translate into stable employment. Return on investment is the lower-ranked pillar in the composite — Azimuth ranks Farmingdale State College #856 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions, in the 42.2 percentile. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $65,444, which sits below the $56,249 median at comparable institutions; graduates earn about $3,352 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Farmingdale State College in the 44.0 percentile for among nonprofit four-year institutions. Access sits in the 85.0 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions, shaped in part by an admission rate of 63.3%. The earnings figures reflect NY's regional labor market and a student population whose post-graduation outcomes represent meaningful returns relative to the no-degree-equivalent baseline of $32,204, even where they fall below selective-peer averages.
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 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 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.
Farmingdale State College is a strong fit for students in the New York metro area who want a career-focused, applied education in Business and related fields without the cost structure of a private institution. Graduates earn median $65,444 four years after enrollment, placing Farmingdale State College in the 70.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and earn about $3,352 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Farmingdale State College in the 44.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The access profile is broad. 36.2% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 39.7% are first-generation college students — a population that finds meaningful support here, with a Pell completion rate of 57.0% and low-income graduate earnings that place Farmingdale State College in the 79.0 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions on a historical 10-year Scorecard measure. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program portfolio is concentrated in Business and applied technical fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes, while those seeking a broad liberal arts curriculum or graduate-school-oriented research environment may find a better match elsewhere.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Farmingdale State College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
St. John's University-New York Higher acceptance rate (10.5 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 19 miles away; similar graduate earnings | NY | 80% | $69,571 | Compare |
Monmouth University Higher acceptance rate (20.4 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 45 miles away; similar graduate earnings | NJ | 90% | $67,991 | Compare |
Iona University Higher acceptance rate (22 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 22 miles away; similar graduate earnings | NY | 91% | $73,595 | Compare |
Roger Williams University Higher acceptance rate (18.7 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | RI | 88% | $70,266 | Compare |
University Of Massachusetts-Dartmouth Higher acceptance rate (23 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | MA | 92% | $68,804 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of California-Merced Similar quality tier (#4279 ranked) | CA | 91% | $64,368 | #4279 | Compare |
University Of Massachusetts-Amherst Similar quality tier in Northeast (#4277 ranked) | MA | 60% | $71,631 | #4277 | Compare |
California State University-Monterey Bay Similar quality tier (#4281 ranked) | CA | 97% | $59,247 | #4281 | Compare |
Illinois State University Similar quality tier (#4275 ranked) | IL | 88% | $62,117 | #4275 | Compare |
Oklahoma State University-Main Campus Similar quality tier (#4282 ranked) | OK | 75% | $57,413 | #4282 | Compare |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
82 graduates
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
20 graduates
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians
65 graduates
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
59 graduates
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians
41 graduates
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.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
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 earnings of $65,444 four years after enrollment, placing Farmingdale State College in the 70.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure sits below the $56,249 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).
Graduates earn about $3,352 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 44.0 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures represent lifetime returns relative to NY's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $32,204, the state median earnings of working adults age 25–34 with only a high school credential.
While institution-level earnings track NY's regional labor market, specific programs deliver materially stronger outcomes. Azimuth ranks Nursing #81 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), with graduates earning median earnings of $108,029 — 1.22x the national benchmark for the field.
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians also stands out: Azimuth ranks it #5 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning median earnings of $91,941 — 1.12x the national benchmark. Business is the dominant program family, accounting for 22% of degree output, followed by Arts at 2% and Social Sciences at 1%.
Among the most popular programs, Business Administration program graduates 353 students annually with median earnings of $61,497 four years after enrollment, while The Science, Technology and Society program graduates 267 students earning median earnings of $54,746. On the higher-earning end, Azimuth ranks Security Science and Technology #4 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning median earnings of $60,464.
