Is Siena College Worth It?

Siena College gives you a solid financial return with a manageable debt load. You graduate with median debt around $27,000 and earn about $76,000 a decade out, which is a healthy gap between what you borrow and what you make. The 75.8% graduation rate and 84% retention rate matter here: you are likely to finish, so you avoid the worst outcome of carrying debt without a degree.

The payoff varies a lot by major. Computer and Information Sciences leads at $62,734 early-career while leaving you with the lowest debt of any top program, so it carries the strongest return on this campus. Business fields stack up next: Management Sciences, Finance, and Accounting all cluster in the high $40,000s to mid $50,000s, and Accounting pairs decent pay with lighter debt. These early-career numbers sit well below the $76,000 median, meaning earnings climb substantially as you gain experience in the Albany-area finance, tech, and accounting markets Siena feeds.

The financial risk is the sticker cost. At roughly $33,000 a year net, four years runs near $130,000 before you factor in earnings. If you enroll in a lower-paying major outside the business and computing tracks listed here, that math gets tight, because Siena's return depends on landing in the fields that actually pay.

The net price tiers reward lower-income families. If your family earns under $30,000, you pay about $25,600. over $110,000, you pay roughly $37,000, an $11,000 annual spread. Middle-income families in the $48,000 to $75,000 band still pay close to $29,000, so the discount thins out fast as income rises. Siena fits you best if you target computing, finance, or accounting and qualify for the lower price tiers. If you plan a low-earning major and pay near full freight, look harder before committing.