Skidmore College

Skidmore College's program mix is anchored in Social Sciences, reflecting the institution's liberal arts identity and emphasis on analytical and humanistic inquiry. Business/Commerce, General is the largest program with 87 graduates, followed by Psychology, General, Political Science, Fine and Studio Arts, and English Language and Literature, General.

Across 28 programs serving roughly 679 students annually, the institution maintains breadth across the social sciences, natural sciences, and humanities. The strongest earnings outcomes cluster in applied and quantitative social science fields.

Business/Commerce, General leads with median earnings of $93,229 four years after enrollment among 87 graduates, followed by Political Science with $69,091 and Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences with $67,645. Fine and Studio Arts and Natural Resources Conservation and Research round out the highest-earning programs, delivering $53,602 and $51,512 respectively.

These earnings patterns reflect the institution's strength in fields where graduates enter the workforce directly into professional and analytical roles. The program distribution—with Social Sciences representing 18%, Business at 13%, and Arts at 12%—positions Skidmore College as a liberal arts institution with particular depth in social inquiry and professional preparation.

Many of these programs are high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the national labor market directly in fields like business, economics, and policy analysis. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these dominant program families align with labor-market demand and wage growth trajectories.

Skidmore College's published cost of attendance is $85,270, but need-based aid substantially reshapes that figure across income levels. Low-income families see a net price of approximately $9,932; middle-income families pay around $15,855; and higher-income families pay approximately $45,136.

Azimuth ranks Skidmore College #1262 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.

Skidmore's aid structure is need-based, with financial aid applied to close the gap between sticker price and what families pay. The college participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs.

Many students also work part-time or take on additional private borrowing beyond federal loans, which can shift the total cost picture. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $19,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $60,000; 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 $61,281, median federal debt of $19,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $220 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/).