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Empire State University
Saratoga Springs, NY 7,585 Undergrads 48.2% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$19,699
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$11,676
After Aid
Median Earnings
$63,250
4yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$11,676
Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$63,250
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Graduation Rate48.2%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients39.6%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time51.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS75.0%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
100.0%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$562k
+$95k
+$77k
Median Cost$12k/yr
+$520k
+$53k
+$35k
Full Cost$20k/yr
+$491k
+$24k
+$6k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
34
∞
Median Cost$12k/yr
44
84%
Full Cost$20k/yr
59
9%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return118%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return-12%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Certificates
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other
CertCIP: 5299
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,067
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Associate's Degrees
Business/Commerce, General
AssocCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$14,250
Earnings (4yr)
$63,915
Natl Median: $49,927
Lifetime Value Added
+$159k
Community Organization and Advocacy
AssocCIP: 4402
Median Debt
$22,742
Earnings (4yr)
$55,084
Natl Median: $44,066
Lifetime Value Added
+$76k
Education, General
AssocCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,787
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
English Language and Literature, General
AssocCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $36,134
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
English Language and Literature/Letters, Other
AssocCIP: 2399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $38,385
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Fine and Studio Arts
AssocCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $31,650
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
AssocCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $38,929
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
AssocCIP: 1907
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $34,184
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Human Resources Management and Services
AssocCIP: 5210
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$90,619
Natl Median: $54,425
Lifetime Value Added
+$400k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$54,122
Natl Median: $44,125
Lifetime Value Added
+$67k
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General
AssocCIP: 3000
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $45,709
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
AssocCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$14,244
Earnings (4yr)
$62,931
Natl Median: $50,491
Lifetime Value Added
+$150k
Physical Sciences, Other
AssocCIP: 4099
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,862
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
AssocCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$48,810
Natl Median: $39,288
Lifetime Value Added
+$15k
Social Sciences, General
AssocCIP: 4501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,146
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Visual and Performing Arts, General
AssocCIP: 5001
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $32,799
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Bachelor's Degrees
Biological and Physical Sciences
BachCIP: 3001
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$71,066
Natl Median: $58,891
Lifetime Value Added
+$96k
Business/Commerce, General
BachCIP: 5201
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$69,365
Natl Median: $68,407
Lifetime Value Added
+$83k
Community Organization and Advocacy
BachCIP: 4402
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$56,825
Natl Median: $51,936
Lifetime Value Added
-$16k
Education, General
BachCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$13,183
Earnings (4yr)
$50,954
Natl Median: $49,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$65k
English Language and Literature/Letters, Other
BachCIP: 2399
Median Debt
$20,750
Earnings (4yr)
$54,265
Natl Median: $46,634
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$13,688
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
BachCIP: 5100
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $61,296
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (4yr)
$45,252
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$113k
Human Resources Management and Services
BachCIP: 5210
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$58,129
Natl Median: $68,069
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$66,111
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
+$58k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$19,000
Earnings (4yr)
$57,379
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
Physical Sciences, Other
BachCIP: 4099
Median Debt
$18,209
Earnings (4yr)
$71,805
Natl Median: $63,096
Lifetime Value Added
+$101k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$17,000
Earnings (4yr)
$49,979
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other
BachCIP: 4499
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$72,188
Natl Median: $61,630
Lifetime Value Added
+$104k
Public Policy Analysis
BachCIP: 4405
Median Debt
$23,642
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,721
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$18,477
Earnings (4yr)
$102,384
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$335k
Social Sciences, General
BachCIP: 4501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$61,925
Natl Median: $53,366
Lifetime Value Added
+$25k
Visual and Performing Arts, General
BachCIP: 5001
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$43,473
Natl Median: $41,688
Lifetime Value Added
-$128k
Master's Degrees
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$114,116
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$342k
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other
MastCIP: 5299
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,656
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,453
Natl Median: $63,399
Lifetime Value Added
-$111k
Education, Other
MastCIP: 1399
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$75,854
Natl Median: $65,348
Lifetime Value Added
+$7k
Finance and Financial Management Services
MastCIP: 5208
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,694
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health and Medical Administrative Services
MastCIP: 5107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $89,981
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities
MastCIP: 5132
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$118,071
Natl Median: $100,487
Lifetime Value Added
+$376k
Human Resources Management and Services
MastCIP: 5210
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $83,558
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
MastCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,716
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Sciences, Other
MastCIP: 4599
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$71,200
Natl Median: $64,286
Lifetime Value Added
-$34k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$60,265
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$132k
Graduate Certificates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
Gr-CertCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$81,491
Natl Median: $94,506
Lifetime Value Added
+$120k
Business/Commerce, General
Gr-CertCIP: 5201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $103,299
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Curriculum and Instruction
Gr-CertCIP: 1303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$57,855
Natl Median: $69,033
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Educational/Instructional Media Design
Gr-CertCIP: 1305
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $75,166
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Finance and Financial Management Services
Gr-CertCIP: 5208
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $118,893
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities
Gr-CertCIP: 5132
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $112,957
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Human Resources Management and Services
Gr-CertCIP: 5210
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $74,850
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Policy Analysis
Gr-CertCIP: 4405
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $80,781
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
Gr-CertCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $126,911
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Sciences, Other
Gr-CertCIP: 4599
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,694
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
Gr-CertCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,709
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.