Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks State University of New York At New Paltz #464 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. State University of New York At New Paltz sits in the 16.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earn about $11,900 less than similar students at comparable institutions. Azimuth ranks State University of New York At New Paltz #1130 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates at State University of New York At New Paltz earn about $11,900 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the university among the stronger-performing institutions in the Azimuth coverage set for earnings beyond expectations. Median earnings four years after enrollment reach $56,933, situating State University of New York At New Paltz in the 31.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions — a result that reflects the institution's return on investment ranking and its standing on Azimuth's composite.
State University of New York at New Paltz's published cost of attendance is $28,428. Financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $10,541, middle-income families pay around $20,178, and higher-income families pay approximately $26,256. Azimuth ranks State University of New York At New Paltz #450 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. As a public SUNY institution, New Paltz benefits from subsidized tuition and broad access to state and federal aid programs, which helps keep net prices competitive relative to private alternatives. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $18,750, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $23,871; 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 $56,933, median federal debt of $18,750 projects to a monthly payment of about $212 under standard ten-year repayment. In a downside earnings scenario anchored on lower-earning program clusters, four-year earnings of $44,858 would shift the real monthly burden, a pattern worth exploring at the program level rather than the institutional average. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
State University of New York At New Paltz is a strong fit for students drawn to business, education, and the liberal arts who want a public university in NY with a reliable path to solid post-graduation earnings without taking on excessive debt. The earnings case is grounded in data. Graduates earn median $56,933 four years after enrollment, placing State University of New York At New Paltz in the 31.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions — and graduates earn about $11,900 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 16.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The access profile is broad. 31.9% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 31.7% are first-generation college students, and the institution delivers completion outcomes for Pell-eligible students at a rate of 57.6% — a signal that State University of New York At New Paltz supports students from lower-income backgrounds through to graduation. Low-income graduates sit in the 64.1 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 mix centers on Business and related applied fields, so students whose interests align there will find the strongest outcomes, and the admit rate of 61.6% reflects a moderately selective process that rewards a solid academic record.
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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This is the State University Of New York At New Paltz hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Azimuth ranks State University of New York At New Paltz #464 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 68.0 percentile for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university located in New Paltz, NY, State University of New York At New Paltz enrolls roughly 6,086 undergraduates. Freshman retention stands at 85.0% and the six-year graduation rate is 71.6%, reflecting solid degree-completion performance for a regional master's institution. The composite is anchored by return on investment and affordability. Azimuth ranks State University of New York At New Paltz #1130 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 23.6 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median four-year earnings of $56,933, placing State University of New York At New Paltz in the 31.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $11,900 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing State University of New York At New Paltz in the 16.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The dominant program family is Business, which shapes both the earnings profile and the types of careers graduates pursue. Access and mobility round out the composite picture. 31.9% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 31.7% are first-generation college students, reflecting a student body that skews toward cost-sensitive families. State University of New York At New Paltz sits in the 76.3 percentile for access and the 84.9 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions, while affordability sits in the 68.5 percentile — a position shaped by NY's public-tuition structure and the institution's broad financial-aid reach relative to peer master's universities.
Computer and Information Sciences, General
50 graduates
Mechanical Engineering
48 graduates
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
26 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
50 graduates
Computer Engineering
6 graduates
State University of New York at New Paltz's program mix is anchored in Business, with significant enrollment across education, social sciences, and the arts — a profile consistent with a regional public liberal-arts-oriented university in the Hudson Valley. Business accounts for 14% of graduates, followed by Education at 14% and Social Sciences at 11%, reflecting a balanced portfolio that spans applied professional fields and foundational disciplines.
Across 44 programs serving roughly 1,759 students annually, 18 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold. The highest aggregate-return program at State University of New York at New Paltz is Psychology, General, combining substantial cohort scale with strong four-year earnings.
The Psychology, General program graduates 207 students annually with median earnings of $55,378 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks it #80 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Teacher Education and Radio, Television, and Digital Communication also enroll large cohorts — 137 and 111 graduates respectively — with median earnings of $53,267 and $47,453 four years after enrollment, placing them in the mid-range of outcomes across the institution's program portfolio.
The highest-earning programs at State University of New York at New Paltz are concentrated in applied business and technology-adjacent fields. Communication and Media Studies leads with median earnings of $60,929 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks it #44 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Subject-Specific Teacher Education and Communication Disorders Sciences and Services follow closely, with median earnings of $60,371 and $60,112 four years after enrollment — both direct-to-workforce pathways where earnings reflect labor-market outcomes rather than a graduate-school transition.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Suny Old Westbury Higher acceptance rate (25.9 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 70 miles away; similar graduate earnings | NY | 85% | $58,526 | Compare |
Manhattanville College Higher acceptance rate (26 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 53 miles away; similar graduate earnings | NY | 85% | $58,832 | Compare |
William Paterson University Of New Jersey Higher acceptance rate (33.8 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 55 miles away; similar graduate earnings | NJ | 93% | $57,780 | Compare |
State University Of New York At Oswego Higher acceptance rate (21.7 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | NY | 80% | $57,566 | Compare |
St Bonaventure University Higher acceptance rate (22.8 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | NY | 82% | $57,214 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus Similar quality tier (#15459 ranked) | NM | 92% | $38,550 | #15459 | Compare |
University Of Arkansas At Little Rock Similar quality tier (#15480 ranked) | AR | 59% | $45,265 | #15480 | Compare |
Worcester State University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#15457 ranked) | MA | 88% | $60,624 | #15457 | Compare |
East Tennessee State University Similar quality tier (#15483 ranked) | TN | 86% | $44,859 | #15483 | Compare |
Vermont State University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#15489 ranked) | VT | 82% | $50,331 | #15489 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
State University of New York at New Paltz's published cost of attendance is $28,428. Financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $10,541, middle-income families pay around $20,178, and higher-income families pay approximately $26,256.
Azimuth ranks State University of New York At New Paltz #450 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. As a public SUNY institution, New Paltz benefits from subsidized tuition and broad access to state and federal aid programs, which helps keep net prices competitive relative to private alternatives.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $18,750, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $23,871; 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 $56,933, median federal debt of $18,750 projects to a monthly payment of about $212 under standard ten-year repayment.
In a downside earnings scenario anchored on lower-earning program clusters, four-year earnings of $44,858 would shift the real monthly burden, a pattern worth exploring at the program level rather than the institutional average. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of State University of New York at New Paltz earn median 4-year earnings of $56,933, placing State University of New York at New Paltz in the 31.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $11,900 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 16.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks State University of New York at New Paltz #1130 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Program outcomes vary by major.
Psychology, General reports 207 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $55,378, ranked #83 nationally in its major. Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods reports 137 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $53,267, ranked #56 nationally in its major.
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication reports 111 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $47,453, ranked #29 nationally in its major. Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas reports 102 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $60,371, ranked #20 nationally in its major.
