SUNY Oneonta
#6 Best Education Colleges in New York- Graduation Rate
- 70% B-
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $60,386 A-
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $19,158 C-
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 70% B-
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 20.1× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $20.1 over 20 years. Ranked #6 in Best Education Colleges in New York.
Every $1 spent returns $20.1 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,462,123.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Earnings 48% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $20.1 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why SUNY Oneonta Matters
SUNY Oneonta is a public university in Oneonta, 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
- 4,643
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Education, Visual & Performing Arts, Business & Marketing, Psychology
Why students choose SUNY Oneonta
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 70% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1120–1310. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $19,158 a year after grants and scholarships — 12% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $60,386 ten years after enrolling — 48% above the typical college, against $19,812 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.8% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 35% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.76 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of about 4,600 students, SUNY Oneonta is a solid choice for those who appreciate a close-knit campus atmosphere. It suits individuals interested in majors like Education, Business & Marketing, Visual & Performing Arts, Psychology, and Communications. The acceptance rate of 70% indicates that the school welcomes a broad range of applicants, making it accessible for many students.
After graduation, students can expect to earn around $60,386 within a decade, which reflects the value of their degrees in the job market. For those who qualify for financial aid, the affordability of attending this school can be a significant advantage, especially considering the net price of $19,158 after aid. This financial support is crucial, as about 36% of students receive Pell Grants, which help lower-income students cover costs.
When it comes to finances, the median debt for graduates stands at $19,812, which is manageable for many young professionals entering the workforce. Students who tend to thrive here are often those looking for a supportive environment that encourages involvement and growth. With a graduation rate of 70%, it’s clear that many find success in completing their degrees and moving forward into their careers. The combination of a reasonable cost and solid earning potential makes SUNY Oneonta an appealing option for students looking to balance education with financial realities.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective SUNY Oneonta 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 Oneonta? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
SUNY Oneonta, located in Oneonta, New York, offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 70% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,230. The graduation rate is roughly 70%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 70%
- Retention Rate
- 76%
- SAT Average
- 1230
- SAT Range
- 1120–1310
- ACT Range
- 25–30
- Full-Time Faculty
- 61%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,888
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 15:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.50
- First-Gen Students
- 26%
- Applicants
- 9,895
- Admitted
- 7,177
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2024-25
The acceptance rate tells you how hard SUNY Oneonta is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 11% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.
- Yield Rate
- 11%
- of admits enroll
- Submitted SAT
- 21%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 2%
- of enrolled freshmen
Test-optional, in practice. Only about 23% of enrolled freshmen submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive here, not a long shot.
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 Oneonta? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at SUNY Oneonta is $19,781, 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 $19,158. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $11,044 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $19,812 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $8,831
- Out-of-State
- $19,781
- Avg Net Price
- $19,158
- Median Debt
- $19,812
- Pell Grant Rate
- 36%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 57%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $11,044
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $14,427
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $19,189
- Family Income $110K+
- $25,382
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 Oneonta — 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 Oneonta Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of SUNY Oneonta earn a median of $60,386, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $49,723
- 8 Years
- $57,701
- 10 Years
- $60,386
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.33x
- Earning > $25K
- 65%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (767)
- 69%
- 100% (767)
- 69%
- 100% (767)
- 69%
- 100% (767)
- 69%
How SUNY 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 SUNY Oneonta Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, SUNY Oneonta delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $19,158/year ($76,632 total). Graduates earn $60,386 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,538,755 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,462,123 (20.1× your investment). The median debt is $19,812, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 70% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $76,632
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,538,755
- Net Return
- $1,462,123
- ROI Multiple
- 20.1×
- Cost Per Year
- $19,158
- Median Debt
- $19,812
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 70%
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 SUNY Oneonta Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
SUNY Oneonta is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.80%, well above the typical college. About 7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 25.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $92,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.80%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 25.7%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 7.0%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $125,947
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $4,879,298
- Investment Income
- $319,069
Top Programs
The fields SUNY Oneonta 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 21% $52,924 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 13% $37,422 early-career
- Business & Marketing 11% $65,690 early-career
- Psychology 10% $37,455 early-career
- Communications 9% $34,410 early-career
- Criminal Justice 5% $43,660 early-career
- Social Sciences 5% $41,658 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 3% $36,418 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 Oneonta'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
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- 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
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into SUNY Oneonta? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
SUNY Oneonta, located in Oneonta, New York, offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 70% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,230. The graduation rate is roughly 70%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend SUNY Oneonta? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at SUNY Oneonta is $19,781, 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 $19,158. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $11,044 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $19,812 in federal student loans.
Is SUNY Oneonta Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of SUNY Oneonta earn a median of $60,386, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does SUNY Oneonta Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
SUNY Oneonta is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.80%, well above the typical college. About 7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 25.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $92,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is SUNY Oneonta? 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 Oneonta. Its economic connectedness score is 1.76, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Does SUNY Oneonta offer Early Decision?
No. SUNY Oneonta does not report a binding Early Decision plan (2024-25 Common Data Set).
Is SUNY Oneonta really test-optional?
In practice, yes. Only about 23% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at SUNY Oneonta (2024-25 Common Data Set).
What percentage of admitted students enroll at SUNY Oneonta?
About 11% of admitted students choose to enroll at SUNY Oneonta — its yield rate (2024-25 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to SUNY Oneonta.
- Mercer UniversityMacon, GA · Close peer72% grad $58,354 earn 69% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Winona State UniversityWinona, MN · Close peer59% grad $58,532 earn 75% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Ramapo College of New JerseyMahwah, NJ · Close peer71% grad $67,541 earn 71% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- St. Joseph's University-New YorkBrooklyn, NY · Close peer67% grad $63,905 earn 72% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- State University of New York at CortlandCortland, NY · Close peer68% grad $60,236 earn 60% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- SUNY College at GeneseoGeneseo, NY · Close peer72% grad $67,316 earn 66% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is SUNY Oneonta? 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 Oneonta. Its economic connectedness score is 1.76, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note