At $11,147/yr net price, Empire State University graduates earn $54,080/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $20,080/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $11,147 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $44,588 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $54,080/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$20,080/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 2.2 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 29.3% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $18,730 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $9,135/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $10,581/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $11,882/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $16,857/yr |
| $110,001+ | $18,178/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $89,879 | $18,477 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $69,897 | |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Certificate | $62,012 | |
| Business/Commerce, General. | Bachelor | $48,041 | $20,500 |
| Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other. | Bachelor | $47,260 | |
| Biological and Physical Sciences. | Bachelor | $45,852 | |
| English Language and Literature/Letters, Other. | Bachelor | $41,937 | $20,750 |
| Business/Commerce, General. | Associate | $39,009 | $14,250 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | Associate | $38,289 | |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | Bachelor | $38,289 |
The Risk Factor
29.3% of students at Empire State University graduate within 6 years. Fewer than half of students complete their degree. If you don't graduate, the financial investment may not pay off.
Analysis
Empire State University gives you a low-cost entry point with a serious completion problem. At roughly $11,000 a year net, this is one of the cheaper public four-year options in New York, and the median debt at graduation sits below $19,000. The financial risk here is not price. It is whether you finish. A 29% graduation rate and a 46% retention rate mean more than half of you leave before your second year, and if you take on any loans and walk away without a degree, you carry the debt with none of the earnings.
Nursing is the clear payoff. It earns nearly double what any other program here does, and it does so on the same modest debt load. If you can get into and complete the nursing track, this school works for you financially. Business, public administration, biological and physical sciences, and English all land in the $42,000 to $48,000 range ten years out. Those are livable but unremarkable numbers, and English carries the highest debt of the bunch while paying the least, so borrow carefully if that is your path.
The net price tiers reward lower-income families most. If your family earns under $30,000, you pay around $9,100. if you earn over $110,000, you pay roughly double that. The gap between the middle tiers is small until you cross $75,000, where the price jumps sharply.
This school fits you if you are disciplined, self-directed, and targeting nursing or a specific vocational goal you know you will finish. Empire State's model rewards people who complete quickly and cheaply. If you need structure and a high chance of graduating, the retention numbers say look elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Empire State University worth the cost?
Empire State University offers decent value with a low net price of $11,147 per year and median debt of $18,730. However, the 29% graduation rate is concerning and significantly impacts overall ROI for students who don't finish.
What are the highest paying majors at Empire State University?
Nursing programs at Empire State University provide the strongest ROI, with registered nursing graduates earning around $89,879 annually. Business programs pay significantly less at $48,000-$69,000, while public administration graduates average $47,260.
How much debt do Empire State University graduates have?
Empire State University graduates carry a median debt of $18,730, which is manageable given the low annual net price of $11,147. The debt-to-earnings ratio works out reasonably for nursing graduates but becomes problematic for lower-paying programs.
What is the graduation rate at Empire State University?
Empire State University has a 29% graduation rate, meaning most students don't complete their degrees. This low completion rate significantly undermines the school's value proposition, even with affordable tuition.