Students at SUNY College of Technology at Alfred benefit from a rare combination of broad access and solid career outcomes in technical fields.
The college's focus on hands-on learning and industry partnerships creates reliable pathways to middle-class careers for students from diverse backgrounds.
SUNY College of Technology at Alfred ranks among the stronger performers in New York's public college system, particularly for students seeking technical and professional education. The college serves a diverse student body with 45% receiving Pell Grants and about 33% being first-generation college students, yet still delivers above-average earnings outcomes that place it in the 64th percentile nationally for long-term financial returns.
What distinguishes this institution is its focus on applied learning and career-ready programs. With a 53% six-year graduation rate, the college successfully guides students through specialized technical programs that connect directly to regional employers. The school's mobility quadrant designation as a "Mobility Engine" reflects its ability to provide broad access while helping students achieve meaningful economic advancement.
As a medium-sized public college in rural New York, SUNY Alfred offers the personalized attention of a smaller institution while maintaining the affordability and accessibility of the SUNY system. For students interested in technical fields, construction, aerospace, or business management, the college provides a direct pathway to stable careers without the debt burden often associated with four-year degrees.
SUNY College of Technology at Alfred's program portfolio reflects its mission as a career-focused technical institution. Business Administration, with 79 graduates, serves as the college's largest program and provides foundational skills that translate across industries, though early-career earnings of $28,598 reflect the broad nature of the degree. The program's high enrollment suggests strong student demand for business skills that complement technical training.
The college's technical specializations deliver stronger immediate returns and represent its core strength. Aerospace Engineering Technology graduates 39 students annually with early-career earnings around $56,302, reflecting the specialized nature of the field and strong industry demand. Construction Management, though smaller with 21 graduates, achieves the highest early earnings at $56,776, demonstrating how focused technical programs can command premium salaries in growing industries.
These programs showcase SUNY Alfred's ability to balance scale with specialization. While Business Administration provides broad career flexibility for the largest number of students, the technical programs offer higher-earning pathways for students interested in hands-on, industry-specific careers. The college's strength lies in maintaining strong employer relationships that ensure graduates transition effectively from classroom training to professional practice in their chosen fields.
Graduates of SUNY College of Technology at Alfred achieve solid long-term earnings that exceed many expectations for a specialized technical college. Ten years after enrollment, graduates earn a median of $50,445, placing the institution in the 64th percentile nationally for earnings outcomes. While this represents strong performance for a technical college, the earnings trajectory shows steady growth from the six-year mark at $45,460, indicating that graduates build valuable skills and experience over time.
The college's program mix drives much of its financial success. Business Administration graduates, representing the largest cohort with 79 students, earn around $28,598 early in their careers but benefit from the broad applicability of their skills across industries. More specialized technical programs show stronger immediate returns: Aerospace Engineering Technology graduates earn approximately $56,302, while Construction Management majors achieve about $56,776 in early-career earnings. These technical programs, though smaller in scale, demonstrate the value of specialized training that directly addresses industry needs.
The institution's strength lies in preparing students for stable, middle-class careers in growing technical fields. With 105 graduates earning more than $75,000 annually, the college proves that focused technical education can lead to substantial financial success. The combination of hands-on training, industry partnerships, and affordable education creates a reliable pathway to economic stability for students from diverse backgrounds.
SUNY College of Technology at Alfred delivers strong affordability across all income levels, making technical education accessible to a broad range of families. Low-income students pay approximately $9,813 annually after aid, well below national averages for similar institutions, while middle-income families face net costs around $14,726 per year. Even high-income families pay a reasonable $21,280, reflecting the college's commitment to keeping education affordable regardless of family financial circumstances.
The college's debt structure supports long-term financial health for graduates. Typical federal student loan debt of $13,750 remains manageable given the career-focused nature of the programs and the steady earnings growth graduates experience. Parent PLUS borrowing averages $14,642, a moderate level that reflects families' confidence in the return on investment these technical programs provide. With a 0% federal loan default rate, the college demonstrates that its graduates successfully transition into stable employment that allows them to meet their financial obligations.
What makes SUNY Alfred particularly sustainable is how well graduates can service their educational debt. The combination of moderate borrowing levels and solid post-graduation earnings creates a financial foundation that allows most students to pursue standard repayment without significant strain, while the technical nature of the programs ensures graduates enter fields with consistent demand and growth potential.
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