Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Upstate Medical University #755 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $99,039, placing Upstate Medical University in the 94.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Upstate Medical University #1100 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Upstate Medical University #755 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 49.3 percentile for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university located in Syracuse, NY, Upstate Medical University enrolls roughly 159 undergraduates, with 27.1% receiving Pell Grants and 35.0% identifying as first-generation college students. Where Upstate Medical University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Upstate Medical University #104 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 93.0 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $99,039, placing Upstate Medical University in the 94.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. This strong earnings performance reflects the institution's concentration in health professions and related programs, fields that consistently deliver solid early-career pay and stable career pathways. Access and mobility round out the composite. Upstate Medical University sits in the 1.8 percentile for access and the 25.7 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. For students pursuing careers in healthcare and allied health fields, Upstate Medical University offers a focused academic portfolio aligned with regional and national workforce demand, making it a practical choice for those seeking direct pathways into well-compensated, in-demand professions.
Upstate Medical University's cost structure reflects its mission as a public health professions institution. The institution serves students pursuing careers in medicine, nursing, and allied health fields, where debt levels and repayment capacity are shaped by strong early-career earnings in healthcare. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $15,000. Families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $22,250; 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 $99,039, median federal debt of $15,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $169 under standard ten-year repayment. In a downside earnings scenario anchored on lower-earning program clusters, four-year earnings of $86,543 would shift the real affordability picture — 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.
Upstate Medical University is a strong fit for students pursuing health professions who want a public university experience in Syracuse, NY. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $99,039, placing Upstate Medical University in the 94.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 27.1% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 35.0% are first-generation — and delivers mobility outcomes that place Upstate Medical University in the 99.9 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions, a historical 10-year Scorecard measure. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix is concentrated in Health, and median federal debt at graduation is $15,000. Students whose interests align with health professions and who can navigate the debt structure will find strong earnings outcomes and upward mobility.
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.
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This is the Upstate Medical University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
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Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Upstate Medical University's cost structure reflects its mission as a public health professions institution. The institution serves students pursuing careers in medicine, nursing, and allied health fields, where debt levels and repayment capacity are shaped by strong early-career earnings in healthcare.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $15,000. Families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $22,250; 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 $99,039, median federal debt of $15,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $169 under standard ten-year repayment. In a downside earnings scenario anchored on lower-earning program clusters, four-year earnings of $86,543 would shift the real affordability picture — 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 Upstate Medical University earn median 4-year earnings of $99,039, placing Upstate Medical University in the 94.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Upstate Medical University #104 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
These outcomes reflect strong early-career earnings trajectories for graduates entering healthcare and clinical fields, where demand remains robust and starting salaries are competitive. The earnings pattern is anchored in Health programs that dominate the institution's degree output.
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions is the largest program with 48 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $86,543, representing 1.2x the national benchmark for the field. The Nursing program graduates 35 students with median 4-year earnings of $116,111, at 1.3x the national benchmark, while Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions delivers median 4-year earnings of $88,981 for 14 graduates.
These programs reflect Upstate Medical University's specialized mission and its alignment with NY's healthcare workforce demand, where graduates move directly into stable, well-compensated clinical and administrative roles.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
35 graduates
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
14 graduates
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
48 graduates
Upstate Medical University focuses on health sciences and clinical education, reflecting its mission as an academic medical center. The largest programs by enrollment are Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions with 48 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $86,543, followed by Nursing with 35 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $116,111, and Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions with 14 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $88,981.
The institution concentrates deeply in health fields where clinical training and direct workforce entry dominate. The highest-earning programs reflect the value of specialized health credentials.
Nursing leads with median 4-year earnings of $116,111 from 35 graduates, followed by Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions with 14 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $88,981, and Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions with 48 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $86,543. These programs represent the institution's core focus—fields where earnings reflect strong labor-market demand and direct entry into clinical or healthcare-adjacent roles.
Many of Upstate Medical University's programs serve as high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the national healthcare workforce directly, supporting geographic flexibility and long-term earnings growth. Health professions remain among the strongest-demand fields nationally, positioning Upstate Medical University graduates to benefit from sustained employer recruitment and wage growth.
As a specialized health sciences institution, the university's program portfolio reflects a focused mission: training clinicians and health professionals for a sector with durable economic outcomes and clear career pathways.
