Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks State University of New York At Plattsburgh #444 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. State University of New York At Plattsburgh sits in the 32.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting graduates who earn about $5,939 less than similar students at comparable institutions. Azimuth ranks State University of New York At Plattsburgh #265 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- State University of New York At Plattsburgh's composite ranking reflects a consistent pattern of delivering earnings beyond expectations for graduates, placing the university among the stronger-performing institutions in the Azimuth coverage set for the value it returns relative to what students bring in. The mobility ranking reinforces that story — graduates earn median $58,319 four years after enrollment, placing State University of New York At Plattsburgh in the 33.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
State University of New York at Plattsburgh's published cost of attendance is $28,244. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $9,400; middle-income families pay around $17,076; higher-income families pay approximately $24,611. Azimuth ranks State University of New York At Plattsburgh #438 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. As a public comprehensive university, SUNY Plattsburgh participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. The institution's affordability positioning reflects both its public tuition structure and the aid reach available to New York residents and out-of-state students. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and work-study is available as part of aid packages. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,196, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $19,010; 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 $58,319, median federal debt of $21,196 projects to a monthly payment of about $239 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
State University of New York at Plattsburgh is a good fit for students drawn to Business and related applied fields who want an accessible public university in NY with a clear path to solid post-graduation earnings. Graduates earn about $5,939 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing State University of New York At Plattsburgh in the 32.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — a meaningful signal for students focused on long-term financial outcomes relative to what they invest. The institution enrolls a substantial share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 40.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 31.4% are first-generation — and delivers graduation outcomes that make it a realistic, affordable option for cost-sensitive families. Median debt at graduation is $21,196, which is manageable relative to the median earnings graduates achieve four years after enrollment. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix is concentrated in Business and adjacent fields, so students whose interests align there will find the strongest outcomes, while those pursuing highly specialized or research-intensive disciplines may find a broader research university a better match. Admission is 78.4% broadly accessible, meaning the application process is not a significant barrier for most qualified applicants.
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 Plattsburgh 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 Plattsburgh #444 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Plattsburgh, NY, State University of New York At Plattsburgh enrolls roughly 3,769 undergraduates. Freshman retention runs at 73.2% and the six-year graduation rate is 58.5%, reflecting a student body that largely completes what it starts. The composite is anchored by return on investment. Azimuth ranks State University of New York At Plattsburgh #997 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median four-year earnings of $58,319, and earn about $5,939 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing State University of New York At Plattsburgh in the 32.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The dominant program concentration in Business shapes much of this outcome, channeling a large share of graduates into fields with consistent hiring demand. Access and affordability provide additional context for the composite. State University of New York At Plattsburgh sits in the 73.8 percentile for access and the 69.3 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 40.6% of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants and 31.4% identifying as first-generation students. Mobility sits in the 82.2 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting how well the institution translates broad enrollment into durable economic progress for its graduates.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
West Texas A & M University Similar quality tier (#15374 ranked) | TX | 99% | $50,741 | #15374 | Compare |
University Of New Hampshire-Main Campus Similar quality tier in Northeast (#15373 ranked) | NH | 88% | $66,479 | #15373 | Compare |
The College Of New Jersey Similar quality tier in Northeast (#15386 ranked) | NJ | 62% | $73,323 | #15386 | Compare |
University Of Central Arkansas Similar quality tier (#15365 ranked) | AR | 89% | $45,938 | #15365 | Compare |
University Of Missouri-St Louis Similar quality tier (#15397 ranked) | MO | 63% | $53,037 | #15397 | Compare |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
104 graduates
Management Information Systems and Services
13 graduates
Finance and Financial Management Services
16 graduates
Computer and Information Sciences, General
16 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
111 graduates
State University of New York At Plattsburgh's program mix is anchored in Business, with additional enrollment spread across education, social sciences, and health-related fields — a signature typical of regional public universities serving local and regional labor markets. Across 41 programs serving roughly 1,186 students annually, the institution's strongest financial outcomes cluster in business and applied professional fields where graduates move directly into the workforce.
Nursing stands out as the program combining the broadest enrollment with consistently solid earnings, making it the primary driver of the institution's aggregate return profile. Business Administration, the largest program by graduate count with 111 graduates, delivers median earnings of $70,499 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks it #137 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Accounting and Psychology, General follow as the next largest programs, with graduates earning $70,109 and $50,673 respectively four years after enrollment, reflecting the institution's applied-professional orientation. The highest-earning programs at State University of New York At Plattsburgh are concentrated in business and technical fields.
Nursing leads on earnings, with 104 graduates earning median earnings of $92,095 four years after enrollment — Azimuth ranks it #169 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Business Administration and Accounting also post strong early-career figures of $70,499 and $70,109 respectively, both representing direct-to-workforce pathways where four-year earnings reflect labor-market outcomes.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these business and applied-professional fields align with regional hiring demand.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
State University of New York at Plattsburgh's published cost of attendance is $28,244. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels.
Low-income families pay approximately $9,400; middle-income families pay around $17,076; higher-income families pay approximately $24,611. Azimuth ranks State University of New York At Plattsburgh #438 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. As a public comprehensive university, SUNY Plattsburgh participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs.
The institution's affordability positioning reflects both its public tuition structure and the aid reach available to New York residents and out-of-state students. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and work-study is available as part of aid packages.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,196, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $19,010; 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 $58,319, median federal debt of $21,196 projects to a monthly payment of about $239 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 earn median 4-year earnings of $58,319, placing State University of New York at Plattsburgh in the 33.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $5,939 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing State University of New York at Plattsburgh in the 32.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks State University of New York at Plattsburgh #997 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That median earnings figure compares with $56,249 at comparable institutions, and State University of New York at Plattsburgh sits in the 51.4 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure not yet updated to the four-year horizon, with low-income graduates earning $43,000.
The dominant program concentration at State University of New York at Plattsburgh is Business, which accounts for 26% of degrees awarded. Social Sciences represents 4% of graduates, and Education accounts for 4%, rounding out the three largest program families.
Azimuth ranks Business Administration #137 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 111 graduates earning $70,499. Among the next tier of programs, Azimuth ranks Accounting #107 among nonprofit four-year institutions with 108 graduates earning $70,109, and Psychology, General #160 among nonprofit four-year institutions with 107 graduates earning $50,673.
