Onondaga Community College
- Graduation Rate
- 26% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $41,190 C
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $8,562 B+
- 50% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 4,456
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 30.3× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $30.3 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $30.3 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,001,970.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 26% — 54% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $30.3 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Onondaga Community College Matters
Onondaga Community College is a public community college in Syracuse, NY and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an above-average alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 4,456
- Setting
- Suburban
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Criminal Justice
Why students choose Onondaga Community College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $8,562 a year after grants and scholarships — 50% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $41,190 ten years after enrolling — 1% above the typical college, against $10,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.9% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 82% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.14 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
At Onondaga Community College, we find a welcoming environment for students who are looking for a solid start in their educational journey. With an enrollment of 4,456, the college is known for its diverse programs in areas like Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Criminal Justice, and Visual & Performing Arts. This variety allows students to explore their interests while also gaining practical skills that are relevant in today’s job market.
Looking at life after graduation, students here can expect to earn around $41,190 within ten years of completing their degree. This figure gives a sense of the potential return on investment, especially when you consider that the net price for attending is about $8,562 after financial aid. For those who take out loans, the median debt is relatively manageable at $10,000, which means many graduates can find pathways to stability and growth in their careers.
When it comes to cost and debt, Onondaga is accessible, especially for those who qualify for Pell Grants, which benefit about 28% of students. This financial structure helps ensure that education is within reach for many. Students who tend to thrive here are those who appreciate a supportive community and are looking for practical skills that lead directly to employment. It's a place where ambition meets affordability, paving the way for future success.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Onondaga Community College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Onondaga Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Syracuse, New York, Onondaga Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 26%.
- Retention Rate
- 55%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 24%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $6,206
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 16:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.66
- First-Gen Students
- 40%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Onondaga Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Onondaga Community College is $11,392, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $8,562. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $5,490 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $6,102
- Out-of-State
- $11,392
- Avg Net Price
- $8,562
- Median Debt
- $10,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 28%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 18%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $5,490
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $6,958
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $10,307
- Family Income $110K+
- $15,707
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Onondaga Community College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Onondaga Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Onondaga Community College report median earnings of $41,190, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $34,215
- 8 Years
- $38,224
- 10 Years
- $41,190
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.24x
- Earning > $25K
- 48%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (249)
- 15%
- 100% (249)
- 15%
- 100% (249)
- 15%
- 100% (249)
- 15%
How Onondaga Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Onondaga Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Onondaga Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $8,562/year ($34,248 total). Graduates earn $41,190 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,036,218 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,001,970 (30.3× your investment). The median debt is $10,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 26% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $34,248
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,036,218
- Net Return
- $1,001,970
- ROI Multiple
- 30.3×
- Cost Per Year
- $8,562
- Median Debt
- $10,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 26%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Onondaga Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Onondaga Community College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.92%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 11.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 8.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $72,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.92%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 8.3%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 11.1%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $98,910
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $3,472,356
- Investment Income
- $127,607
Top Programs
The fields Onondaga Community College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Humanities 30%
- Health Professions 19% $69,893 early-career
- Business & Marketing 8% $36,304 early-career
- Criminal Justice 7% $50,714 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 6% $41,235 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 6% $30,624 early-career
- Communications 5% $23,930 early-career
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 2%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Onondaga Community College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Onondaga Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Syracuse, New York, Onondaga Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 26%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Onondaga Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Onondaga Community College is $11,392, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $8,562. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $5,490 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,000 in federal student loans.
Is Onondaga Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Onondaga Community College report median earnings of $41,190, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Onondaga Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Onondaga Community College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.92%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 11.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 8.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $72,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Onondaga Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Onondaga Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.14, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.08). Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Onondaga Community College.
- College of AlamedaAlameda, CA · Close peer34% grad $42,563 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Berkeley City CollegeBerkeley, CA · Close peer39% grad $41,217 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Contra Costa CollegeSan Pablo, CA · Close peer30% grad $40,850 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Lehigh Carbon Community CollegeSchnecksville, PA · Close peer29% grad $42,436 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Volunteer State Community CollegeGallatin, TN · Close peer26% grad $41,150 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Jefferson State Community CollegeBirmingham, AL · Close peer24% grad $40,719 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Onondaga Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Onondaga Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.14, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.08). Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note