Farmingdale State College
Farmingdale State College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Farmingdale State College at a Glance
The State University of New York at Farmingdale is a public college in East Farmingdale, New York, United States. It is part of the State University of New York. The college was chartered in 1912 as a school of applied agriculture under the name of "New York State School Of Agriculture on Long Island".
1912
114 years old
$7M
6.7 million (2019)
10,106
10,062 undergrad · 44 grad
380 acres
Identity
How to Apply to Farmingdale State College
Official admissions page$50
Fee waiver available
2 required
Recommendation letters
Fee waiver
Is Farmingdale State College Worth It?
Farmingdale State College is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $10,867/year net price and $69,781 median earnings, graduates earn 6.4× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.6 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 55% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 5 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
Bottom line: Farmingdale State College delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How Farmingdale State College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in NY
Ranked #7 of 27 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Foothill College | 100 | $7,653 | $57,072 |
| #2 | Skyline College | 100 | $1,738 | $55,702 |
| #3 | CUNY Brooklyn College | 100 | $3,103 | $60,752 |
| #4 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice | 100 | $3,203 | $56,195 |
| #5 | CUNY Queens College | 100 | $4,195 | $62,763 |
| #6 | University of Michigan-Dearborn | 90 | $9,492 | $59,649 |
| #7 | Farmingdale State College | 88 | $10,867 | $69,781 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Farmingdale State College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 8 in NY.
Best Programs at Farmingdale State College
The highest-earning program at Farmingdale State College is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at $90,900/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology at $27,600/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduate from Farmingdale State College earns $90,900, while a Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology graduate earns $27,600. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduates carry $19,371 in median debt vs. $18,659 for Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $10,867/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $90,900 | $90,900 | $19,371 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $65,500 | $65,500 | $22,129 |
| Construction Engineering Technologies | $57,800 | $57,800 | $16,981 |
| Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians | $52,300 | $52,300 | $17,687 |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | $46,100 | $46,100 | $17,378 |
| Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other | $44,200 | $44,200 | N/A |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $41,600 | $41,600 | $15,250 |
| Information Science/Studies | $41,100 | $41,100 | N/A |
| Computer Programming | $40,800 | $40,800 | $14,944 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $39,900 | $39,900 | $15,000 |
| Air Transportation | $38,300 | $38,300 | $22,000 |
| Science, Technology and Society | $35,500 | $35,500 | $15,000 |
| Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other | $34,400 | $34,400 | N/A |
| Communication and Media Studies | $33,900 | $33,900 | N/A |
| Biology, General | $33,100 | $33,100 | $14,145 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $32,100 | $32,100 | $21,500 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $30,300 | $30,300 | $17,771 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $30,200 | $30,200 | $18,495 |
| Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other | $29,000 | $29,000 | $17,625 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | $27,600 | $27,600 | $18,659 |
Similar Colleges in NY
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Farmingdale, NY
- Student Body
- 9,552 students
- Admission Rate
- 63%
- Graduation Rate
- 55%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $10,867
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $69,781
- Median Student Debt
- $14,718