Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks University At Albany #113 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. University At Albany sits in the 65.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earn about $1,676 more than similar students at comparable institutions. Azimuth ranks University At Albany #90 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Students at University At Albany earn more than similar students at comparable institutions, a signal that Albany's social-sciences-centered degree mix translates into stronger-than-expected financial outcomes across the graduate cohort. Azimuth's composite ranking reflects how the university balances earnings beyond expectations with meaningful mobility outcomes, positioning it among the stronger-performing public four-year institutions in the Azimuth coverage set.
Azimuth ranks University At Albany #113 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Albany, NY, University At Albany enrolls roughly 12,564 undergraduates. Retention stands at 83.4% and the six-year graduation rate is 61.5%, figures that reflect solid degree completion relative to the institution's broad-access profile. What anchors University At Albany in the composite is mobility. The university sits in the 93.8 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions, driven by a student body where 43.7% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 30.1% are first-generation college students — a population that, on graduation, converts access into measurable economic progress. Affordability reinforces that position: University At Albany sits in the 72.3 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, keeping costs manageable across income levels. Access sits in the 92.1 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions, with an admission rate of 69.1% signaling a broad-access admissions posture. Return on investment is the lower-ranked pillar in the composite. Azimuth ranks University At Albany #622 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $1,676 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University At Albany in the 65.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The dominant program family is Social Sciences, and median earnings four years after enrollment of $66,256 reflect NY's regional labor market and a student population whose post-graduation outcomes represent meaningful returns relative to the no-degree-equivalent baseline of $32,204, even where they fall below selective-peer averages.
University At Albany's published cost of attendance is $28,802, but need-based aid reshapes that figure meaningfully across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $11,112 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $17,923, and higher-income families pay approximately $24,085. Azimuth ranks University At Albany #396 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. Need-based aid covers a meaningful share of cost for many students, with the gap between sticker price and net price widening at lower income levels. Families apply for aid using the FAFSA, and University At Albany participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs. New York State's Excelsior Scholarship and other state grant programs can further reduce net price for qualifying in-state students, making the effective cost for low- and middle-income New York residents particularly competitive relative to the published cost of attendance. Families weighing the full pricing picture should explore the net price illusion to understand how sticker price and net price diverge. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $19,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $22,398; 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 $66,256, median federal debt of $19,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $220 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
University At Albany is a public research university in Albany, NY that fits students drawn to the social sciences, public policy, and related fields who want a research-university experience at a public institution price point. Graduates earn in the 70.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and University At Albany sits in the 65.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — graduates earn about $1,676 more than similar students at comparable institutions, a meaningful signal for students focused on long-term financial outcomes relative to what they invest. The access profile is broad. 43.7% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 30.1% are first-generation college students, and the institution's completion rate for Pell-eligible students stands at 62.8% — a strong indicator that University At Albany supports students from lower-income backgrounds through to graduation, not just through the door. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix is concentrated in Social Sciences and related fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes, while students oriented toward engineering or applied-professional programs may find a narrower range of high-earning pathways. Admitted students pay a net price of $24,085 at the higher end of the income spectrum, and median student debt at graduation is $19,500, making this a reasonable option for families who want to manage borrowing carefully.
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
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This is the University At Albany 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.
University At Albany's published cost of attendance is $28,802, but need-based aid reshapes that figure meaningfully across income levels. Low-income families pay approximately $11,112 per year in net price, middle-income families see annual costs around $17,923, and higher-income families pay approximately $24,085.
Azimuth ranks University At Albany #396 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.
Need-based aid covers a meaningful share of cost for many students, with the gap between sticker price and net price widening at lower income levels. Families apply for aid using the FAFSA, and University At Albany participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs.
New York State's Excelsior Scholarship and other state grant programs can further reduce net price for qualifying in-state students, making the effective cost for low- and middle-income New York residents particularly competitive relative to the published cost of attendance. Families weighing the full pricing picture should explore the [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) to understand how sticker price and net price diverge.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $19,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $22,398; 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 $66,256, median federal debt of $19,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $220 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 of University At Albany earn median earnings of $66,256 four years after enrollment, placing University At Albany in the 70.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure sits below the $65,228 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).
Graduates earn about $1,676 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 65.4 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures still represent lifetime 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 degree mix at University At Albany leans toward Social Sciences, which accounts for 17% of graduates, followed by Business at 13% and Education at 3%. Business Administration combines strong enrollment with competitive pay, making it a key contributor to the institution's overall return profile.
Azimuth ranks Psychology, General #54 nationally 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/), with 306 graduates earning median earnings of $55,004. The Business Administration program graduates 304 students and delivers median earnings of $76,633, while Azimuth ranks Biology, General #78 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 249 graduates earning median earnings of $58,703.
Further down the lineup, Economics and Homeland Security graduate 202 and 191 students respectively, with median earnings of $63,331 and $69,365 four years after enrollment.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mount Saint Mary College Higher acceptance rate (12.6 percentage points higher) and located 82 miles away; similar graduate earnings | NY | 82% | $67,705 | Compare |
Utica University Higher acceptance rate (17.3 percentage points higher) and located 79 miles away; similar graduate earnings | NY | 87% | $63,277 | Compare |
Western New England University Higher acceptance rate (13.4 percentage points higher) and located 77 miles away; similar graduate earnings | MA | 83% | $73,157 | Compare |
University Of Utah Higher acceptance rate (17.3 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | UT | 87% | $67,170 | Compare |
Wheaton College Higher acceptance rate (20.1 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | IL | 90% | $63,756 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Prairie View A & M University Similar quality tier (#4241 ranked) | TX | 79% | $45,411 | #4241 | Compare |
University Of Washington-Bothell Campus Similar quality tier (#4240 ranked) | WA | 91% | $78,466 | #4240 | Compare |
Texas Woman's University Similar quality tier (#4244 ranked) | TX | 96% | $56,544 | #4244 | Compare |
Sam Houston State University Similar quality tier (#4245 ranked) | TX | 90% | $54,211 | #4245 | Compare |
Temple University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#4247 ranked) | PA | 80% | $63,727 | #4247 | Compare |
Accounting and Related Services
117 graduates
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
36 graduates
Computer and Information Sciences, General
136 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
304 graduates
Mathematics
45 graduates
University At Albany's program mix is anchored in Social Sciences, with Social Sciences accounting for 17% of graduates, Business representing 13%, and Education contributing 3%. Psychology, General is the largest program with 306 graduates, followed by Business Administration (304 graduates), Biology, General (249 graduates), Economics (202 graduates), and Homeland Security (191 graduates).
Across 39 programs serving roughly 3,298 students annually, 24 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold. The strongest earnings come from quantitative and applied fields.
Azimuth ranks Business Administration #35 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with graduates earning $76,633. Azimuth ranks Homeland Security #2 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with graduates earning $69,365.
Azimuth ranks Political Science #64 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with graduates earning $64,270. Business Administration combines strong enrollment scale with solid pay, making it a key contributor to the institution's overall earnings profile.
Several of University At Albany's social-sciences programs feed grad-school-dependent pathways where four-year earnings undercount lifetime trajectory, while applied fields like Business Administration and Homeland Security channel graduates directly into the workforce at competitive salaries. The supply-demand map provides context for how these program families align with national labor-market demand.
