SUNY Oneonta
SUNY Oneonta — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
SUNY Oneonta at a Glance
The State University of New York at Oneonta, also known as SUNY Oneonta, is a public university in Oneonta, New York, United States. It is part of the State University of New York (SUNY) system.
1889
137 years old
$86M
$85.6 million (2025)
5,533
4,815 undergrad · 718 grad
250 acres
Identity
How to Apply to SUNY Oneonta
Official admissions page$50
1 required
Testing policy
Recommendation letters
Is SUNY Oneonta Worth It?
SUNY Oneonta offers moderate value at $19,158/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $60,386, which is near the national average. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.3 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 70% graduation rate means roughly 30% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
How SUNY Oneonta compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in NY
Ranked #10 of 53 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 | Brazosport College | 100 | $4,732 | $45,910 |
| #2 | Lake Washington Institute of Technology | 71 | $6,817 | $50,669 |
| #3 | Ramapo College of New Jersey | 66 | $18,173 | $67,541 |
| #4 | Rutgers University-Camden | 66 | $18,745 | $74,479 |
| #5 | SUNY College at Geneseo | 66 | $18,211 | $67,316 |
| #6 | Bismarck State College | 63 | $10,270 | $54,277 |
| #10 | SUNY Oneonta | 55 | $19,158 | $60,386 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of SUNY Oneonta's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 6 in NY.
Best Programs at SUNY Oneonta
The highest-earning program at SUNY Oneonta is Accounting and Related Services at $54,400/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Fine and Studio Arts at $18,700/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Accounting and Related Services graduate from SUNY Oneonta earns $54,400, while a Fine and Studio Arts graduate earns $18,700. 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: Accounting and Related Services graduates carry $27,813 in median debt vs. $21,500 for Fine and Studio Arts.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $19,158/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 | $54,400 | $54,400 | $27,813 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $41,000 | $41,000 | $22,782 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $38,700 | $38,700 | $21,500 |
| Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General | $36,600 | $36,600 | $19,500 |
| Sociology | $31,300 | $31,300 | $21,320 |
| Apparel and Textiles | $31,100 | $31,100 | $23,250 |
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | $30,400 | $30,400 | $19,500 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $30,000 | $30,000 | $17,750 |
| Mathematics | $29,900 | $29,900 | $22,150 |
| Psychology, General | $29,900 | $29,900 | $19,852 |
| Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management | $29,700 | $29,700 | $20,500 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $28,600 | $28,600 | $22,500 |
| Biology, General | $26,400 | $26,400 | $21,500 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General | $26,400 | $26,400 | $20,375 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $25,200 | $25,200 | $19,863 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $24,700 | $24,700 | $16,332 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $24,300 | $24,300 | $20,478 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $18,700 | $18,700 | $21,500 |
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Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Oneonta, NY
- Student Body
- 4,643 students
- Admission Rate
- 70%
- Graduation Rate
- 70%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $19,158
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $60,386
- Median Student Debt
- $19,812