At $7,178/yr net price, Onondaga Community College graduates earn $41,190/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $7,190/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $7,178 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $28,712 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $41,190/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$7,190/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 4 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 24.8% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $10,000 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $3,993/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $5,787/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $9,695/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $12,676/yr |
| $110,001+ | $13,914/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nuclear Engineering Technologies/Technicians. | Associate | $97,959 | |
| Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians. | Associate | $61,064 | $9,500 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Associate | $58,823 | $15,575 |
| Fire Protection. | Associate | $42,682 | |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Certificate | $39,729 | |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services. | Associate | $37,208 | |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | Associate | $34,704 | |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians. | Associate | $33,993 | |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services. | Associate | $33,382 | |
| Information Science/Studies. | Associate | $31,305 |
The Risk Factor
24.8% of students at Onondaga Community College 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
Onondaga Community College gives you a low-cost entry point with a middling payoff. At around $7,000 a year net price and a $10,000 median debt load, you won't dig a deep financial hole here. But the median 10-year earnings of $41,190 and a 24.8% graduation rate mean the return depends heavily on which program you finish and whether you finish at all.
The technical and health associate programs are where the money is. The nuclear engineering technology track leads earners at nearly $98,000, and electrical engineering technology pays over $61,000 with under $10,000 in debt. Registered nursing pays close to $59,000, though it carries the heaviest debt on the list at around $15,600. These tie directly to Syracuse-area demand for skilled technicians, healthcare workers, and utility labor.
The weaker end tells a different story. Fire protection and the allied health diagnostic certificate land near or below $42,000, roughly the school-wide median. A general associate degree that isn't in a technical or nursing field puts you at that median or below, and the low graduation rate is your biggest financial risk. If you drop out, you carry debt with no credential to show for it.
This school fits you if you enroll in a specific technical or nursing program and commit to finishing. Aim for the engineering technology or nursing tracks, not an open-ended general degree.
Net price scales sharply with income. Under $30,000, you pay about $3,993 a year. over $110,000, closer to $13,914. For lower-income families the cost here is genuinely low. For higher-income families paying near full price, the earnings payoff only justifies the cost if you land in one of the top technical programs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Onondaga Community College worth the money?
At $7,178 per year, Onondaga Community College offers reasonable value for certain career-focused programs, but the overall picture is mixed. The low graduation rate of 25% means many students don't complete their programs, and median earnings of $41,190 after 10 years are modest.
What are the best paying programs at Onondaga Community College?
Nuclear engineering technology leads with nearly $98,000 in median earnings, followed by electrical engineering technology at $61,064 and nursing at $58,823. These technical programs offer strong ROI that justifies the investment.
How much debt do Onondaga Community College graduates have?
The median debt load is $10,000, which is manageable for a community college. However, this only applies to the 25% of students who actually graduate.
Does Onondaga Community College have a good graduation rate?
No, only 24.8% of students graduate, which is low even for community colleges. This means most students either transfer or drop out without completing their programs.