State University of New York at Oswego
State University of New York at Oswego — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
State University of New York at Oswego at a Glance
State University of New York at Oswego is a public university in Oswego, New York, United States. It has a total student population of 6,756 and the campus size is 700 acres (280 ha). SUNY Oswego offers more than 120 undergraduate, graduate and professional programs in four colleges: College of Business and Entrepreneurship, College of Communication, Media, and the Arts, College of Education, Health, and Human Services, and the College of Liberal Arts, Sciences, and Engineering.
1861
165 years old
$81M
$80.9 million (2025)
6,483
5,293 undergrad · 1,190 grad
700 acres
Prestige & value signals
Identity
How to Apply to State University of New York at Oswego
Official admissions pageTesting policy
Is State University of New York at Oswego Worth It?
State University of New York at Oswego offers moderate value at $16,236/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $57,566, which is near the national average. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.1 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 60% graduation rate means roughly 40% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
How State University of New York at Oswego compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in NY
Ranked #21 of 106 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 | Skyline College | 100 | $1,738 | $55,702 |
| #2 | Brazosport College | 100 | $4,732 | $45,910 |
| #3 | University of California-Merced | 93 | $11,983 | $64,368 |
| #4 | Solano Community College | 83 | $4,669 | $44,170 |
| #5 | Murray State University | 74 | $9,096 | $44,737 |
| #6 | Lake Washington Institute of Technology | 71 | $6,817 | $50,669 |
| #21 | State University of New York at Oswego | 54 | $16,236 | $57,566 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of State University of New York at Oswego's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 5 in NY.
Best Programs at State University of New York at Oswego
The highest-earning program at State University of New York at Oswego is Computer and Information Sciences, General at $63,100/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Fine and Studio Arts at $18,800/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Computer and Information Sciences, General graduate from State University of New York at Oswego earns $63,100, while a Fine and Studio Arts graduate earns $18,800. 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: Computer and Information Sciences, General graduates carry $20,470 in median debt vs. $24,250 for Fine and Studio Arts.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $16,236/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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $63,100 | $63,100 | $20,470 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $46,300 | $46,300 | $21,500 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $38,300 | $38,300 | $19,375 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $37,100 | $37,100 | $21,518 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $35,900 | $35,900 | $19,938 |
| Marketing | $35,800 | $35,800 | $21,376 |
| Economics | $34,300 | $34,300 | $27,000 |
| Journalism | $32,500 | $32,500 | $26,614 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $31,300 | $31,300 | $19,500 |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $29,600 | $29,600 | $25,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $28,600 | $28,600 | $24,299 |
| Biology, General | $28,500 | $28,500 | $21,819 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $27,400 | $27,400 | $24,875 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $27,300 | $27,300 | $20,250 |
| Psychology, General | $26,500 | $26,500 | $23,017 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $24,800 | $24,800 | $22,622 |
| Political Science and Government | $24,700 | $24,700 | $25,397 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $22,700 | $22,700 | $21,500 |
| Sociology | $22,400 | $22,400 | $25,550 |
| Zoology/Animal Biology | $22,000 | $22,000 | $21,500 |
| History | $21,600 | $21,600 | $22,000 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $20,500 | $20,500 | $21,500 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $19,800 | $19,800 | $25,784 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $18,800 | $18,800 | $24,250 |
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Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Oswego, NY
- Student Body
- 5,473 students
- Admission Rate
- 81%
- Graduation Rate
- 60%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $16,236
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $57,566
- Median Student Debt
- $20,880