Public Graduate Strong 71/100

SUNY College at Potsdam

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Potsdam, New York

About SUNY College at Potsdam

SUNY College at Potsdam is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Potsdam, New York. It enrolls 1,823 students (a mid-sized 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.

Acceptance
77.7%
Graduation
49.6%
Net Price
$13,624
Median Earnings (10yr)
$47,866
Enrollment
1,823
Student : Faculty
10:1

Accreditor Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Academic Calendar Semester

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 Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Strong
71/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes 40
Value 75
Affordability 74
Selectivity 47

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 77.7%, SUNY College at Potsdam is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.

Acceptance Rate
77.7%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported
Test Policy Not Considered Standardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether SUNY College at Potsdam is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Becoming less selective 17.5 pts since 2019
68%201971.7%202081.3%202182.7%202285.5%2023

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending SUNY College at Potsdam 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 $13,624 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price
$13,624
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
40%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
55%
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)
$8,768
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$18,678
Room & Board (on-campus)
$15,280
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,845
Books & Supplies
$950
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$1,956
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,322
Total Cost of Attendance
$25,083

Application fee: $50 (one-time, due at submission)


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
    $8,623
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $8,684
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $14,524
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $15,513
  • Over $110,000
    $20,041

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.

$3,822
10% percentile
$7,500
25% percentile
$24,250
Median percentile
$27,000
75% percentile
$32,895
90% 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 $18,735 ↓ $5,515
No Pell $16,444 ↓ $7,806
Dependent students $18,500 ↓ $5,750
Independent students $15,934 ↓ $8,316
Female students $17,760 ↓ $6,490
Male students $18,500 ↓ $5,750
Pell recipients: 17.7% (4,291 students)No Pell: 15.5% (3,766 students)Dependent students: 17.5% (4,237 students)Independent students: 15.1% (3,650 students)Female students: 16.8% (4,068 students)Male students: 17.5% (4,237 students)Overall Median$24,250
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $11,000, less than completers ($24,250), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

50% of full-time students who enrolled at SUNY College at Potsdam graduate within six years, and 78% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate
50%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
78%
Returning for their second year

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered SUNY College at Potsdam earn a median of $47,866 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$47,866
Earning > $25K
76%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$38,000$41,000$44,000$46,000$49,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

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
$36,900

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates
$47,000

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.


By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)
$36,600

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)
$39,700

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)
$44,800

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $10,100, about 21% 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 16.2 pts across 6 years
60.1%1yr66.1%3yr67.6%5yr76.3%7yr
What this signals: Strong. 76% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.

Who Studies Here

SUNY College at Potsdam is home to 1,823 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 34% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled
1,823
Part-Time
4%
First-Generation
34%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
White 71.3% 1,299
Hispanic 11.7% 213
Black 7.2% 132
Other 4.3% 79
Asian 1.6% 29
International 1.3% 23
White: 71.3% (1,299 students)Hispanic: 11.7% (213 students)Black: 7.2% (132 students)Other: 4.3% (79 students)Asian: 1.6% (29 students)International: 1.3% (23 students)Total1,823

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at SUNY College at Potsdam. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Town: Remote Potsdam, New York
Housing
Strongly residential 2,069 beds for 1,823 students
Adult Learners
6% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

SUNY College at Potsdam offers an extensive catalog of programs: 46 distinct programs across 20 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.

7 Programs
2 Programs
2 Programs
2 Programs
1 Program

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at SUNY College at Potsdam is 10:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).

Student : Faculty
10:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$25,341
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$46M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$63,199
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

206 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 26% $80,939
Associate Professors 65 32% $64,974
Assistant Professors 55 27% $53,263
Instructors 16 8% $42,814
Lecturers 16 8% $50,652

Pros & Cons of SUNY College at Potsdam

A quick at-a-glance summary of how SUNY College at Potsdam tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS
  • Below-average net price
  • Accessible admissions for most applicants
  • Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
  • Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
  • Below-average completion rate
  • Modest first-year retention
Best for: Based on the data, SUNY College at Potsdam is a fit for students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.

Frequently Asked Questions about SUNY College at Potsdam

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about SUNY College at Potsdam.

Is SUNY College at Potsdam hard to get into?
SUNY College at Potsdam has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 77.7%.
What is the acceptance rate at SUNY College at Potsdam?
SUNY College at Potsdam has an acceptance rate of 77.7%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does SUNY College at Potsdam cost?
The average net price after aid at SUNY College at Potsdam is $13,624 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is SUNY College at Potsdam worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $47,866 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $13,624 per year. That's roughly 3.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is SUNY College at Potsdam known for?
SUNY College at Potsdam is best known for its programs in Teaching Specific Subjects, Psychology, Teacher Education (K-12). These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do SUNY College at Potsdam graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering SUNY College at Potsdam are $47,866, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is SUNY College at Potsdam accredited?
Yes. SUNY College at Potsdam is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend SUNY College at Potsdam?
SUNY College at Potsdam enrolls 1,823 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at SUNY College at Potsdam?
SUNY College at Potsdam graduates 50% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is SUNY College at Potsdam a public or private college?
SUNY College at Potsdam is a Public institution.
Where is SUNY College at Potsdam located?
SUNY College at Potsdam is located in Potsdam, New York.
What programs does SUNY College at Potsdam offer?
SUNY College at Potsdam offers 46 distinct programs. The most popular include Teaching Specific Subjects, Psychology, Teacher Education (K-12).
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at SUNY College at Potsdam?
The student-to-faculty ratio at SUNY College at Potsdam is 10:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

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