Paul Smiths College Of Arts And Science

Paul Smiths College's published cost of attendance is $51,506. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $16,732, middle-income families pay around $23,253, and higher-income families pay approximately $32,048.

Azimuth ranks Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science #1087 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The affordability rank reflects both the sticker price and the debt load graduates carry, as [net price and sticker price can differ substantially](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/), though at Paul Smiths the gap between published cost and net price varies by income level.

Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $22,750, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $39,759; 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 the typical graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $48,703, median federal debt of $22,750 projects to a monthly payment of about $257 under standard ten-year repayment.

In a downside earnings scenario anchored on lower-earning program clusters, projected four-year earnings of $42,163 would shift the real monthly burden substantially. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning and income-driven repayment options — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).

Graduates of Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science earn median 4-year earnings of $48,703, placing the institution in the 9.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $18,192 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science in the 7.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Azimuth ranks Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science #1377 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science's concentration in natural resources and environmental fields.

Forestry is the largest program with 18 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $49,291, representing 0.8x the national benchmark for the field. The Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy program graduates 16 students earning median 4-year earnings of $53,788, and Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management produces 15 graduates with median 4-year earnings of $50,171.

These programs anchor the institution's economic profile.

Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science's program mix is anchored in Natural Resources and applied environmental fields—a portfolio aligned with the institution's location in the Adirondack region and its focus on outdoor-oriented professional preparation. Forestry is the largest program with 18 graduates, followed by Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy with 16 graduates, Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management with 15 graduates, Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies with 12 graduates, and Culinary Arts and Related Services with 9 graduates.

Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 84 students annually, the institution's earnings profile reflects the practical, field-based nature of its curriculum. The highest-earning programs at Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science include Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy, where graduates earn median earnings of $53,788 four years after enrollment with 16 graduates, and Natural Resources Conservation and Research, where graduates earn $51,359 with 8 graduates.

Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management graduates earn $50,171, and Forestry delivers median earnings of $49,291. These outcomes reflect the strong labor-market demand for graduates trained in environmental management, conservation, and outdoor recreation fields, where employers actively recruit from specialized programs.

The institution's strength in Natural Resources represents 9% of the degree output, positioning Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science as a specialized provider in a distinct career pathway. Graduates in these fields typically enter direct-to-workforce roles in state and federal agencies, nonprofit conservation organizations, outdoor recreation enterprises, and environmental consulting firms.

The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these specialized program families align with regional and national labor-market opportunities in the environmental and natural-resources sector.