Empire State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Saratoga Springs, New York. It enrolls 7,585 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarTrimester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Open / Online). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
69/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes47
Value72
Affordability51
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
Admissions data is not yet reported for Empire State University.
Acceptance Rate
—
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Empire State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $11,676 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$11,676
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
37%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
34%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$7,648
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$17,558
Room & Board (off-campus)
$14,230
Books & Supplies
$1,776
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,820
Total Cost of Attendance
$19,699
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$8,989
$30,001 – $48,000
$10,507
$48,001 – $75,000
$14,812
$75,001 – $110,000
$16,481
Over $110,000
$19,679
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,50010%percentile
$6,25025%percentile
$18,730Medianpercentile
$25,51175%percentile
$37,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $11,084
↓ $7,646
No Pell $10,395
↓ $8,335
Dependent students $7,500
↓ $11,230
Independent students $12,237
↓ $6,493
Female students $11,082
↓ $7,648
Male students $10,468
↓ $8,262
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, less than completers ($18,730), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
33% of full-time students who enrolled at Empire State University graduate within six years, and 56% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
33%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
56%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Empire State University earn a median of $54,080 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$54,080
Earning > $25K
75%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$41,600
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$58,500
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$37,600
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$49,200
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$62,800
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $16,900, about 29% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
14.5 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 63% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Empire State University is home to 7,585 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 45% are first-generation college students, 49% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
7,585
Part-Time
49%
First-Generation
45%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 45.9%3,484
Hispanic 16.4%1,241
Black 16.1%1,219
Other 3.7%279
Asian 3.5%262
International 0.6%47
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Empire State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small SuburbSaratoga Springs, New York
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
74%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Trimesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Empire State University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
63 distinct programs across
15 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Empire State University is 17:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
17:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$8,463
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$25M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$73,882
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
162 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
54
33%
$82,918
Associate Professors
63
39%
$74,664
Assistant Professors
43
27%
$62,097
Instructors
1
1%
$45,975
Lecturers
1
1%
$71,302
Pros & Cons of Empire State University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Empire State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Solid post-graduation earnings
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Best for:
Based on the data, Empire State University is a fit for
working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about Empire State University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Empire State University.
How much does Empire State University cost?
The average net price after aid at Empire State University is $11,676 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Empire State University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $54,080 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $11,676 per year. That's roughly 4.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Empire State University known for?
Empire State University is best known for its programs in Business, Community Organization and Advocacy, Human Resources. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Empire State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Empire State University are $54,080, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Empire State University accredited?
Yes. Empire State University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Empire State University?
Empire State University enrolls 7,585 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Empire State University?
Empire State University graduates 33% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Empire State University a public or private college?
Empire State University is a Public institution.
Where is Empire State University located?
Empire State University is located in Saratoga Springs, New York.
What programs does Empire State University offer?
Empire State University offers 63 distinct programs. The most popular include Business, Community Organization and Advocacy, Human Resources.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Empire State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Empire State University is 17:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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