Cost & financial aid brief
State University of New York at Cortland Tuition, Costs & Financial Aid
How much does State University of New York at Cortland cost after financial aid?
Aid covers about 21% of the published cost for the average aid recipient at State University of New York at Cortland. The pattern across income bands shows lower average net prices at lower incomes: the lowest band, under $30,000, averages $12,550, while the highest, over $110,000, averages $25,853.
The spread between the two ends is $13,303. In its 2025-26 Common Data Set, the university reported first-year aid figures for the 2024-25 academic year.
Among the 624 students determined to have need, the average need-based grant was $8,449 and the average total package was $9,704. The average share of need met for those aided students was 58%, and 36 had their need fully met. Separately, 171 students received an average merit award of $4,387.
The published cost of attendance at State University of New York at Cortland is $28,108. Azimuth ranks the university #713 for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions.
After grants and scholarships, the average net price for aid recipients from families earning under $30,000 is $12,550, for those earning $48,001 to $75,000 it is $20,102, and for those earning over $110,000 it is $25,853. The spread between the lowest and highest bands is $13,303.
Grants and scholarships reduce the sticker price by an average of $5,763 for aid recipients, leaving an average net price of $22,345 across all bands. That is $8,277 above the peer median of $14,068 for comparable institutions (same type and size).
Borrowers who finish carry a median of $21,500 in federal student loans, $271 above the peer median of $21,229. 94.1% of federal aid recipients take federal loans.
Parents who borrow hold a separate median of $24,455 in Parent PLUS loans. If repaid over ten years, the median federal student debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $244 a month.
Student loans: what does repayment look like?
At State University of New York at Cortland, 94.1% of federal aid recipients take federal loans. For borrowers who complete, median federal student loan debt is $21,500.
The peer median, the middle value for comparable institutions (same type and size), is $21,229, placing the university's median $271 above that benchmark. For the separate parent-borrower population, median Parent PLUS borrowing is $24,455.
In its 2025-26 Common Data Set, the university reported that 73% of graduates borrowed from any source, with an average cumulative amount of $21,799 per borrower. Its figures include federal loans held by 72% of graduates, averaging $15,628. They also include private loans held by 18% of graduates, averaging $6,171.
Mobility is the clearest strength at State University of New York at Cortland, but the financial return picture is mixed. Among federally aided completers who are working and not enrolled, median earnings are $58,555 four years after completion.
Azimuth places those earnings in the 45th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. Earnings beyond expectations, the gap between what graduates earn and what expects for similar students, is below the Azimuth norm.
Graduates earn about $13,113 less than the model expects for similar students. Azimuth places this measure in the 12th percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The downside, typical, and upside earnings scenarios are $52,569, $58,555, and $66,991 four years after completion. Median federal student debt of $21,500 is $271 above the peer median of $21,229 at comparable institutions (same type and size).
That debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $244 a month if repaid over ten years. Below-expected earnings and debt above peers leave a mixed return picture.
Among the separate Parent PLUS parent-borrower population, median borrowing is $24,455. For student borrowers, that debt corresponds to an estimated payment of $244 a month if repaid over ten years.
Repayment figures are in the Financial GPS card below. Borrowing populations and model assumptions.
Parent loans: what can the family afford?
How Parent PLUS borrowing affects families
- Median Parent PLUS debt
- $24,455
- Estimated parent payment
- $311/mo
| Income | Risk level |
|---|---|
| $35,000 | High pressure |
| $50,000 | High pressure |
| $75,000 | High pressure |
| $100,000 | Caution |
| $150,000 | Safe |
| $200,000 | Safe |
The model holds the parent balance fixed and varies parent income. Read the assumptions and limits.
Student and parent loans: the monthly payments
Financial GPS
What does repayment look like?
- Institution median student debt
- $21,500
- Institution Parent PLUS debt
- $24,455
Federal loans only; private or institutional loans aren’t included.
- Estimated student payment · monthly
- $244/mo
- Estimated Parent PLUS payment · monthly
- $311/mo
- Modeled student + parent payments
- $555/mo
Payments use school-wide median balances, not a specific major’s.
Student payment as a share of available income
At median graduate earnings of $58,555, with a $22,590 annual allowance for basic expenses:
8.1% of income above the allowance · Good
- Excellent Under 8%
- Good 8–under 12% · selected scenario
- Concerning 12–20%
- High risk Over 20%
How this estimate works
These are modeled earnings scenarios, not observed earnings percentiles. Annual student payments ÷ (earnings − basic-expense allowance). The starting allowance, $22,590, uses the published framework’s 2024 baseline; it is not a current local living-cost estimate. Change it for your budget, including taxes and other obligations. This combines school-level figures for illustration, not a typical individual’s budget or an official school rating. Parent PLUS is separate.
Payment assumptions
Payments are 10-year standard payments on the median balance, before loan fees, used as a yardstick. Rates for newly issued loans may differ, and loans made after July 1, 2026 can repay over a longer term; existing loans keep their original fixed rates.
Data & methodology
Sources and reporting periods: methodology.
Analysis and methodology by Daniel Rogers, founder of College Azimuth.
Explanatory text is AI-assisted drafting checked against those figures; it is not an additional data source.
Figure notes link to sources and limitations. About College Azimuth.
Net price and borrowing. The 2023–24 income-band averages include living costs and cover eligible first-time, full-time aid recipients; public-school figures reflect in-state tuition. They are not individual aid offers. Peer matching supplies overall net prices, not matched income-band averages. College Scorecard data and documentation.
A personal student-risk assessment also needs your major and borrowing plan; these school-level illustrations do not assign you a personal risk zone.
Payments are 10-year standard payments on the median balance, before loan fees, used as a yardstick. Rates for newly issued loans may differ, and loans made after July 1, 2026 can repay over a longer term; existing loans keep their original fixed rates. Private-loan figures from the Common Data Set are separate from these federal repayment illustrations.