SUNY Old Westbury
SUNY Old Westbury — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
SUNY Old Westbury at a Glance
The State University of New York at Old Westbury is a public university in Old Westbury, New York, United States, with portions in the neighboring town of Jericho. It enrolls just over 5,000 students.
1965
61 years old
4,948
4,478 undergrad · 470 grad
605 acres
45
Identity
Is SUNY Old Westbury Worth It?
SUNY Old Westbury offers moderate value at $11,282/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $58,526, which is near the national average. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.8 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 46% 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.
How SUNY Old Westbury compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in NY
Ranked #16 of 131 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 | Indiana University-Kokomo | 100 | $3,968 | $49,917 |
| #2 | Brazosport College | 100 | $4,732 | $45,910 |
| #3 | Bellingham Technical College | 92 | $5,997 | $49,748 |
| #4 | Bates Technical College | 86 | $6,292 | $50,051 |
| #5 | University of Illinois Springfield | 83 | $9,833 | $57,103 |
| #6 | Sonoma State University | 76 | $12,885 | $65,986 |
| #16 | SUNY Old Westbury | 59 | $11,282 | $58,526 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of SUNY Old Westbury's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 11 in NY.
Best Programs at SUNY Old Westbury
The highest-earning program at SUNY Old Westbury is Accounting and Related Services at $49,700/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is English Language and Literature, General at $26,900/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Accounting and Related Services graduate from SUNY Old Westbury earns $49,700, while a English Language and Literature, General graduate earns $26,900. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Accounting and Related Services graduates carry $16,216 in median debt vs. $17,250 for English Language and Literature, General.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $11,282/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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting and Related Services | $49,700 | $49,700 | $16,216 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $40,600 | $40,600 | $15,000 |
| Social Sciences, Other | $37,500 | $37,500 | $18,000 |
| Criminology | $33,400 | $33,400 | $19,000 |
| Psychology, General | $31,900 | $31,900 | $15,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $30,300 | $30,300 | $20,200 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $29,900 | $29,900 | $29,387 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $28,900 | $28,900 | $17,650 |
| Sociology | $27,000 | $27,000 | $19,000 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $26,900 | $26,900 | $17,250 |
Similar Colleges in NY
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Old Westbury, NY
- Student Body
- 4,162 students
- Admission Rate
- 84%
- Graduation Rate
- 46%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $11,282
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $58,526
- Median Student Debt
- $14,997