At $19,951/yr net price, State University of New York at Cortland graduates earn $60,236/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $26,236/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $19,951 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $79,804 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $60,236/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$26,236/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 3 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 68.2% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $21,500 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $11,272/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $13,846/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $18,050/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $19,602/yr |
| $110,001+ | $23,422/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Educational Administration and Supervision. | Certificate | $77,401 | |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services. | Master | $57,318 | $41,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods. | Master | $49,331 | $20,500 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. | Master | $48,789 | $20,500 |
| Special Education and Teaching. | Master | $48,703 | |
| Special Education and Teaching. | Bachelor | $46,087 | |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness. | Master | $44,021 | $27,333 |
| Business/Managerial Economics. | Bachelor | $40,768 | $21,470 |
| Political Science and Government. | Bachelor | $40,551 | $22,000 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Bachelor | $39,369 | $21,500 |
The Risk Factor
68.2% of students at State University of New York at Cortland graduate within 6 years. A significant share of students finish, but roughly 32% do not complete their degree.
Analysis
SUNY Cortland gives you a solid financial return with modest risk. You borrow about $21,500 to earn a degree, and median earnings ten years out land near $60,000. That gap between debt and payoff is healthy, and a 68% grad rate plus 80% retention means most students who enroll actually finish and start earning.
The program picture is more mixed than the school-wide median suggests. Cortland is a teacher-training school at heart, and special education pays the best of its listed bachelor's programs. But those early-career program salaries all sit in the high $30,000s to mid-$40,000s, well below the $60,000 median for the school overall. New York teacher and therapy jobs anchor the regional market here, and those fields pay steadily but not richly, especially early on. Rehabilitation and therapeutic professions carry the highest debt at $25,000 against the lowest of those starting salaries, so that combination is the weakest deal on the list.
Cortland works best for you if you want to teach, work in allied health, or enter public-sector work in New York. The debt stays manageable and the jobs exist. If you want a high-earning business or tech career, the early business economics numbers here don't point that direction.
Net price is where this school gets attractive for lower-income families. If your family earns under $30,000, you pay around $11,000 a year, roughly half the sticker for families above $110,000. That sliding scale makes Cortland a genuine value at the bottom of the income range. If your family is over $110,000, you pay closer to $23,000 a year, and you should weigh that against the modest starting salaries in Cortland's core teaching and therapy fields before committing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is State University of New York at Cortland worth the cost?
SUNY Cortland offers reasonable value for education majors, with net costs around $20,000 annually and median debt of $21,500. However, most graduates earn $60,236 after 10 years, which is below average for college graduates nationally.
What are the best paying majors at State University of New York at Cortland?
Educational Administration leads at $77,401 annually, followed by Communication Disorders at $57,318. Most other programs, including teaching specializations, pay in the high $40,000s to low $50,000s.
How much debt do State University of New York at Cortland graduates have?
The median debt is $21,500, which is manageable compared to many schools. With starting salaries often in the $40,000-$50,000 range for education majors, debt payments should be reasonable but not ideal.
Does State University of New York at Cortland have good job prospects after graduation?
The 68% graduation rate is concerning, meaning about one in three students don't finish. For those who do graduate, job prospects depend heavily on your major, with education administration offering the best financial outcomes.