SUNY College at Potsdam
- Graduation Rate
- 47% D+
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $47,866 B-
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $13,624 C+
- 20% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 78% C
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 22.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $22.4 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $22.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,164,030.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Every $1 invested returns $22.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why SUNY College at Potsdam Matters
SUNY College at Potsdam is a public university in Potsdam, NY and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 1,823
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Education, Visual & Performing Arts, Social Sciences, Psychology
Why students choose SUNY College at Potsdam
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
Competitive — admits about 78% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $13,624 a year after grants and scholarships — 20% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $47,866 ten years after enrolling — 17% above the typical college, against $24,250 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.62 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of 1,823 students, SUNY College at Potsdam is a solid choice for those interested in fields like Education, Visual & Performing Arts, Business & Marketing, Psychology, and Social Sciences. The acceptance rate of 78% suggests that we can find a welcoming environment here, one that fosters individual growth and creativity. Students looking to dive deep into these areas will find the support and resources to help them flourish.
After graduation, students can expect to earn an average of $47,866 in their first decade. This figure reflects a range of opportunities available to graduates from various disciplines. While the graduation rate sits at 47%, which indicates that not everyone completes their degree, those who do tend to find paths that lead to stable employment and reasonable earnings. This means that with the right commitment and focus, graduates can carve out successful careers.
On the financial side, the net price after aid is about $13,624, and the median debt for graduates is $24,250. This helps frame the financial commitment required for a degree here. With 40% of students receiving Pell Grants, there's a good level of support for those who need it. Overall, students who thrive at Potsdam are often those who appreciate a close-knit community and are dedicated to their studies, especially in the arts and education sectors.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective SUNY College at Potsdam 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 SUNY College at Potsdam? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Potsdam, New York, SUNY College at Potsdam admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 78%. The graduation rate is roughly 47%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 78%
- Retention Rate
- 78%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 63%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,383
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 9:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.47
- First-Gen Students
- 34%
- Applicants
- 3,170
- Admitted
- 2,621
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 SUNY College at Potsdam? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at SUNY College at Potsdam is $18,678, 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 $13,624. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,623 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $24,250 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $8,768
- Out-of-State
- $18,678
- Avg Net Price
- $13,624
- Median Debt
- $24,250
- Pell Grant Rate
- 40%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 55%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $8,623
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $8,684
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $14,524
- Family Income $110K+
- $20,041
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 SUNY College at Potsdam — 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 SUNY College at Potsdam Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of SUNY College at Potsdam earn a median of $47,866, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $39,440
- 8 Years
- $47,269
- 10 Years
- $47,866
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.51x
- Earning > $25K
- 56%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (303)
- 37%
- 100% (303)
- 37%
- 100% (303)
- 37%
- 100% (303)
- 37%
How SUNY Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is SUNY College at Potsdam Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, SUNY College at Potsdam delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $13,624/year ($54,496 total). Graduates earn $47,866 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,218,526 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,164,030 (22.4× your investment). The median debt is $24,250, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 47% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $54,496
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,218,526
- Net Return
- $1,164,030
- ROI Multiple
- 22.4×
- Cost Per Year
- $13,624
- Median Debt
- $24,250
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 47%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $2,132,933
- Investment Income
- $122,673
Top Programs
The fields SUNY College at Potsdam 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.
- Education 29% $47,548 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 11% $30,854 early-career
- Social Sciences 11% $35,271 early-career
- Psychology 10% $32,002 early-career
- Business & Marketing 8% $42,645 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 5% $32,604 early-career
- Criminal Justice 4% $40,898 early-career
- English & Literature 3% $36,562 early-career
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 SUNY College at Potsdam'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
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- B+Physician Assistant$130,020 · 28% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into SUNY College at Potsdam? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Potsdam, New York, SUNY College at Potsdam admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 78%. The graduation rate is roughly 47%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend SUNY College at Potsdam? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at SUNY College at Potsdam is $18,678, 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 $13,624. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,623 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $24,250 in federal student loans.
Is SUNY College at Potsdam Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of SUNY College at Potsdam earn a median of $47,866, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is SUNY College at Potsdam? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at SUNY College at Potsdam. Its economic connectedness score is 1.62, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to SUNY College at Potsdam.
- University of Mount OliveMount Olive, NC · Close peer50% grad $47,139 earn 76% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Gardner-Webb UniversityBoiling Springs, NC · Close peer59% grad $48,039 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- University of South Carolina BeaufortBluffton, SC · Close peer36% grad $48,088 earn 73% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at CobleskillCobleskill, NY · Close peer42% grad $45,030 earn 84% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Wisconsin-SuperiorSuperior, WI · Close peer43% grad $49,606 earn 93% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Georgia Southwestern State UniversityAmericus, GA · Close peer36% grad $48,757 earn 75% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is SUNY College at Potsdam? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at SUNY College at Potsdam. Its economic connectedness score is 1.62, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note