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CollegeRanker
Colleges / NY / Utica
Public Utica, NY · Suburban · Mid-Atlantic · 100% data
A- Earnings B+ Value C+ Affordability
57%
C
Graduation Rate
About half of students who start complete their degree
$64,355
A-
Earnings (10yr)
Well above the typical college graduate
$14,164
C+
Net Price
17% less than the typical college
81%
C-
Acceptance Rate
Accessible to most qualified applicants
Earnings +58% vs avg
Graduation +0% vs avg
Net Price +-17% vs avg

Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 25.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $25.2 over 20 years. Ranked #3 in Best Online Computer Science Programs in New York.

25.2× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $25.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,371,839.

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What The Data Says

1

A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.

2

Graduates earn 58% more than the national college median.

3

Every $1 invested returns $25.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why SUNY Polytechnic Institute Matters

SUNY Polytechnic Institute is a public university in Utica, 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
1,849
Setting
Suburban
Primary Strengths
Computer Science & IT, Business & Marketing, Engineering, Health Professions

Why students choose SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Strong STEM core
A heavy concentration in technical fields
Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Strength in Computer Science & IT
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

B-
Top 34% overall
A-
Earnings
$64,355 median
B+
Value
4.5× net price
C+
Affordability
$14,164/yr net
C
Graduation
57% graduate
C-
Selectivity
81% admit rate
C
Diversity
0.55 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

With an enrollment of nearly 1,850 students and an acceptance rate of 81%, SUNY Polytechnic Institute is a solid choice for those interested in practical, career-oriented education. This school is particularly well-suited for students pursuing degrees in Computer Science & IT, Business & Marketing, Engineering, Health Professions, and Communications. If you're looking for a place where you can dive deep into these fields while enjoying a supportive community, this could be a good fit.

After graduation, students can expect to earn an average of $64,355 within ten years. That figure gives a sense of the potential return on investment. The affordability factor is significant here, too. With a net price of $14,164 after financial aid and a median debt load of $17,250, many graduates leave with manageable financial obligations. This balance can make a big difference as you start your career.

In terms of who tends to thrive at SUNY Polytechnic Institute, those who are self-motivated and eager to engage in their studies often find the most success. The school caters well to students who appreciate a straightforward, focused education that prepares them for the workforce. With a solid foundation in practical skills, many graduates leave equipped to navigate the job market effectively.

Rankings

1

Can I Get In?

How selective SUNY Polytechnic Institute is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into SUNY Polytechnic Institute? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

SUNY Polytechnic Institute, located in Utica, New York, keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 81% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,201. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 57%.

Acceptance Rate 81%
Retention Rate 69%
SAT Average 1201
ACT Midpoint 27
SAT Range 1025–1370
ACT Range 22–30
Full-Time Faculty 46%
Faculty Salary (mo) $9,835
Student–Faculty Ratio 13:1
Diversity Index 0.55
First-Gen Students 31%
Applicants 2,919
Admitted 2,384
2

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 Polytechnic Institute? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

When weighing the true cost of attending SUNY Polytechnic Institute, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $21,215 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $14,164 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,442 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $17,250.

$8,625
In-State Tuition
$21,215
Out-of-State
$14,164
Avg Net Price
$17,250
Median Debt
40%
Pell Grant Rate
42%
Federal Loan Rate

What Families Actually Pay

$7,442
Family Income $0–$30K
$9,561
Family Income $30K–$48K
$13,934
Family Income $48K–$75K
$20,613
Family Income $110K+
3

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Graduate Outcomes

Is SUNY Polytechnic Institute Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of SUNY Polytechnic Institute earn a median of $64,355, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.

$58,662
6 Years After Entry
$61,959
8 Years
$64,355
10 Years
0.27x
Debt-to-Earnings
74%
Earning > $25K

Earnings Trajectory

$58,662 6yr $61,959 8yr $64,355 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

40%
100% (138)
40%
100% (138)
40%
100% (138)
40%
100% (138)

How SUNY Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation57%Earnings 10yr$64KNet Price$14KRetention69%Median Debt$17KPell Grant Rate40%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$7K$0-30K$10K$30-48K$14K$48-75K$21K$110K+

College ROI Calculator

Is SUNY Polytechnic Institute Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, SUNY Polytechnic Institute delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $14,164/year ($56,656 total). Graduates earn $64,355 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,428,495 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,371,839 (25.2× your investment). The median debt is $17,250, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 57% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

$56,656
Total Cost (4yr)
$1,428,495
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,371,839
Net Return
25.2×
ROI Multiple
$14,164
Cost Per Year
$17,250
Median Debt
Less than 1 yr
Debt Payback
57%
Graduation Rate
4

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is SUNY Polytechnic Institute? 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 Polytechnic Institute, with an economic connectedness score of 1.61 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.04), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

1.61
Economic Connectedness
Cross-class friendships
-0.04
Friending Bias
Lower = more inclusive
4.0%
Volunteering Rate
0.99
Support Ratio
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

$7,437,760
Endowment
Total Expenses
Federal Grants
$64,630
Investment Income

Top Programs

The fields SUNY Polytechnic Institute 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into SUNY Polytechnic Institute? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +

SUNY Polytechnic Institute, located in Utica, New York, keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 81% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,201. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 57%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend SUNY Polytechnic Institute? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +

When weighing the true cost of attending SUNY Polytechnic Institute, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $21,215 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $14,164 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,442 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $17,250.

Is SUNY Polytechnic Institute Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +

Ten years out, alumni of SUNY Polytechnic Institute earn a median of $64,355, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.

How Connected Is SUNY Polytechnic Institute? 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 Polytechnic Institute, with an economic connectedness score of 1.61 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.04), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Similar Schools

Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to SUNY Polytechnic Institute.

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

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The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

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