Schenectady County Community College
- Graduation Rate
- 31% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $40,902 C
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $8,947 B+
- 48% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 1,507
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 28.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $28.5 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $28.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $985,713.
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 31% — 46% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $28.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Schenectady County Community College Matters
Schenectady County Community College is a public community college in Schenectady, 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
- 1,507
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Humanities, Business & Marketing, Culinary & Personal Services
Why students choose Schenectady County 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 $8,947 a year after grants and scholarships — 48% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $40,902 ten years after enrolling — 0% above the typical college, against $11,049 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.0% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 75% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.10 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With around 1,500 students enrolled, Schenectady County Community College is a solid choice for those looking to dive into fields like Business, Health Professions, or the Arts. It’s particularly fitting for students who appreciate smaller class sizes and want to engage deeply with their studies. The focus here is on practical skills and foundational knowledge, making it a great spot for those ready to jumpstart their careers or continue their education.
After ten years, graduates earn about $40,902 annually, which is a promising figure for those entering the workforce. This level of income indicates that students can find solid opportunities after completing their degrees. With a net price of around $8,947, the financial commitment is manageable for many, especially considering that 23% of students receive Pell Grants, helping to offset costs even further.
On the practical side, students can expect to graduate with a median debt of $11,049, which is relatively low. This makes Schenectady County Community College a viable option for those who want to minimize their financial burden while still obtaining a quality education. Students who thrive here are often those who are ready to take advantage of the supportive environment and focused programs, setting themselves up for success in their chosen fields.
Rankings
- #26 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in New York
- #29 Best Online Education Programs in New York
- #34 Most Affordable Colleges in New York
- #35 Best Online Criminal Justice Programs in New York
- #38 Best Online Computer Science Programs in New York
- #43 Best Online Nursing Programs in New York
- #45 Best Online Business Programs in New York
Can I Get In?
How selective Schenectady County 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 Schenectady County Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Schenectady, New York, Schenectady County Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 31%.
- Retention Rate
- 51%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $6,081
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 15:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.72
- First-Gen Students
- 43%
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 Schenectady County Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Schenectady County Community College is $8,974, 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 $8,947. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,410 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $11,049 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $6,190
- Out-of-State
- $8,974
- Avg Net Price
- $8,947
- Median Debt
- $11,049
- Pell Grant Rate
- 23%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 9%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $6,410
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $8,161
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $10,881
- Family Income $110K+
- $15,537
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Schenectady County Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Schenectady County Community College report median earnings of $40,902, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $34,147
- 8 Years
- $36,952
- 10 Years
- $40,902
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.27x
- Earning > $25K
- 49%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (72)
- 14%
- 100% (72)
- 14%
- 100% (72)
- 14%
- 100% (72)
- 14%
How Schenectady 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 Schenectady County Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Schenectady County Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $8,947/year ($35,788 total). Graduates earn $40,902 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,021,501 in total earnings — a net gain of $985,713 (28.5× your investment). The median debt is $11,049, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 31% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $35,788
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,021,501
- Net Return
- $985,713
- ROI Multiple
- 28.5×
- Cost Per Year
- $8,947
- Median Debt
- $11,049
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 31%
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 Schenectady County Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Schenectady County 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 1.01%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 13.9% 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 7.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $68,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.01%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 7.3%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 13.9%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $68,100
Top Programs
The fields Schenectady County Community College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Health Professions 18%
- Humanities 16%
- Business & Marketing 15%
- Culinary & Personal Services 10%
- Visual & Performing Arts 10%
- Computer Science & IT 7%
- Criminal Justice 6%
- Legal Studies 3%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Schenectady County 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+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Software Developer$132,270 · 25% growthVulnerable 40
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Schenectady County Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Schenectady, New York, Schenectady County Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 31%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Schenectady County Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Schenectady County Community College is $8,974, 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 $8,947. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,410 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $11,049 in federal student loans.
Is Schenectady County Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Schenectady County Community College report median earnings of $40,902, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Schenectady County Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Schenectady County 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 1.01%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 13.9% 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 7.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $68,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Schenectady County 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 Schenectady County Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.10, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.06). Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Schenectady County Community College.
- College of Eastern IdahoIdaho Falls, ID · Close peer37% grad $42,057 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Eastern Maine Community CollegeBangor, ME · Close peer33% grad $41,704 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- SUNY AdirondackQueensbury, NY · Close peer33% grad $41,267 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Cayuga County Community CollegeAuburn, NY · Close peer32% grad $38,709 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Indian Hills Community CollegeOttumwa, IA · Close peer40% grad $40,507 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Cecil CollegeNorth East, MD · Close peer32% grad $43,952 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Schenectady County 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 Schenectady County Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.10, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.06). Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note