Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Suny Polytechnic Institute #343 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $73,730, placing Suny Polytechnic Institute in the 74.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Suny Polytechnic Institute sits in the 81.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting strong graduate outcomes relative to comparable institutions. Suny Polytechnic Institute's composite ranking reflects a consistent pattern of strong graduate earnings and return on investment for students pursuing technology and engineering pathways in Utica, New York. Graduates earn about $7,202 more than similar students at comparable institutions, a performance that places the institution among the higher-performing public four-year institutions in the Azimuth coverage set for earnings relative to student background.
Azimuth ranks Suny Polytechnic Institute #343 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 77.1 percentile for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Utica, NY, Suny Polytechnic Institute enrolls roughly 1,849 undergraduates. Retention stands at 69.2% and the six-year graduation rate is 55.1%, reflecting a student body that largely completes what it starts. The composite is anchored by return on investment. Azimuth ranks Suny Polytechnic Institute #512 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 65.4 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $73,730, placing Suny Polytechnic Institute in the 74.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $7,202 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Suny Polytechnic Institute in the 81.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. That performance reflects the institution's concentration in Engineering Technology and related applied technical fields, which connect graduates directly to in-demand roles in engineering, technology, and manufacturing. Access and affordability provide additional context for the composite. Suny Polytechnic Institute admits about 81.3% of applicants, with 39.6% of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants and 30.5% identifying as first-generation college students — a profile that reflects meaningful but not universal access. The institution sits in the 47.6 percentile for access and the 86.2 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, with mobility outcomes in the 74.9 percentile. For students who do enroll, the combination of applied technical programs and strong earnings relative to comparable institutions makes Suny Polytechnic Institute a financially grounded option in the NY public university landscape.
Suny Polytechnic Institute's published cost of attendance is $23,741, but need-based aid reshapes that figure meaningfully across income levels. 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. Suny Polytechnic Institute participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay — the net price illusion — is most pronounced for lower-income students, where grant aid covers a larger share of cost. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $73,730, median federal debt of $17,250 projects to a monthly payment of about $195 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Suny Polytechnic Institute is a strong fit for students drawn to applied professional fields, particularly in Engineering Technology and related disciplines. Graduates earn a median of $73,730 four years after enrollment, placing the institution above many peers in the Azimuth coverage set. With 39.6% of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants, the school serves a broad socioeconomic range while delivering competitive outcomes. The combination of accessible admissions (81.3% acceptance rate) and a cost of attendance at $23,741 makes this an option worth considering for practical-minded students. Those who need to borrow should carefully weigh the earnings trajectory against potential debt, as the program mix yields strongest returns for students whose interests align with its technical focus.
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
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Suny Polytechnic Institute hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Suny Polytechnic Institute's published cost of attendance is $23,741, but need-based aid reshapes that figure meaningfully across income levels. 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.
Suny Polytechnic Institute participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay — the [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) — is most pronounced for lower-income students, where grant aid covers a larger share of cost. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $73,730, median federal debt of $17,250 projects to a monthly payment of about $195 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 $73,730, placing Suny Polytechnic Institute in the 74.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $7,202 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Suny Polytechnic Institute in the 81.1 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Suny Polytechnic Institute #512 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 65.4 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures represent meaningful returns relative to NY's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $32,204 — the state median earnings of working adults age 25–34 with only a high school credential.
The earnings pattern at Suny Polytechnic Institute is anchored in applied technical and engineering fields. Nursing stands out as the program combining the broadest cohort scale with strong four-year earnings, making it a key driver of the institution's overall return profile.
Artificial Intelligence, the largest program by graduate count with 47 graduates, delivers median earnings of $85,180 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks it #103 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). Business Administration and Nursing round out the strongest-earning cluster, with graduates earning $59,011 and $108,014 respectively four years after enrollment — both above the peer benchmark for their fields.
The dominant program family at Suny Polytechnic Institute is Engineering Technology, which shapes the institution's overall earnings signature and reflects the career pathways most graduates pursue in the regional and national labor market.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
40 graduates
Mechanical Engineering
27 graduates
Computer and Information Sciences, General
47 graduates
Engineering, Other
9 graduates
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians
35 graduates
Suny Polytechnic Institute's program mix is anchored in Engineering Technology — a focused, applied-technical signature that distinguishes the Utica, NY institution from broader comprehensive universities. The largest programs by graduate count cluster in technology, engineering, and business fields, with Artificial Intelligence, Business Administration, and Nursing enrolling the most students and forming the core of the institution's degree output.
Across 23 programs, 14 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, serving roughly 490 students annually in the Azimuth coverage set. The strongest rankings at Suny Polytechnic Institute are concentrated in applied technical fields.
Azimuth ranks Nursing #48 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning median earnings of $108,014 from a cohort of 40 graduates. Azimuth ranks Mechanical Engineering #206 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning $87,788, and Artificial Intelligence ranks #103 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions with graduates earning $85,180.
These programs reflect the institution's depth in applied engineering and technology disciplines where graduates enter the workforce directly. The program-mix signature at Suny Polytechnic Institute skews toward fields with direct workforce alignment — particularly in Business (15% of graduates), Engineering (15%), and Social Sciences (1%).
Popular programs like Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians and Biology, General round out the portfolio, offering applied pathways with solid early-career earnings.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
State University Of New York At Oswego Similar quality tier in Northeast (#10921 ranked) | NY | 81% | $57,566 | #10921 | Compare |
Clayton State University Similar quality tier (#10931 ranked) | GA | 68% | $49,179 | #10931 | Compare |
United States Merchant Marine Academy Similar quality tier in Northeast (#11450 ranked) | NY | 34% | $90,610 | #11450 | Compare |
Mississippi University For Women Similar quality tier (#10894 ranked) | MS | 90% | $46,128 | #10894 | Compare |
University Of Massachusetts-Dartmouth Similar quality tier in Northeast (#11984 ranked) | MA | 91% | $68,804 | #11984 | Compare |
