Schenectady, New York Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
Executive Summary (TL;DR)
Colleges in Schenectady, New York: median public in-state tuition $12,444 (+125.8% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $88,604 (+62.9% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 37.0% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $11,049 (-16.7% vs U.S.) 3,860 students enrolled statewide.
Overview
Colleges and universities in Schenectady serve students across New York with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 5 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 3,860 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $12,444. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Schenectady, New York and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Schenectady vs New York & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schenectady, New York | $12,444 | $19,058 | $11,049 | 80.4% | 3,860 |
| New York (state median) | $7,340 | $9,373 | $15,250 | 56.0% | 800,099 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Schenectady, New York vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schenectady, New York | $88,604 | 37.0% | 90.2% | 1.0% | — | 88.8% | 0.29 |
| New York (state median) | $60,386 | 42.9% | 81.6% | 4.0% | — | 75.8% | 0.35 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in New York (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schenectady, New York | $12,444 | $19,058 | $11,049 | 80.4% | 3,860 | $88,604 | 37.0% |
| New York | $25,610 | $28,089 | $15,547 | 71.9% | 169,387 | $61,060 | 53.6% |
| Brooklyn | $12,380 | $11,889 | $11,750 | 48.1% | 56,132 | $46,498 | 38.3% |
| Bronx | $8,750 | $13,507 | $9,696 | 56.7% | 40,728 | $65,756 | 40.4% |
| Buffalo | $19,775 | $15,386 | $21,028 | 33.3% | 36,581 | $60,681 | 43.9% |
| Rochester | $38,826 | $17,264 | $21,274 | 71.3% | 33,739 | $66,944 | 45.3% |
| Rochester | $38,826 | $17,264 | $21,274 | 71.3% | 33,739 | $66,944 | 45.3% |
| Albany | $17,120 | $17,167 | $19,000 | 45.7% | 26,226 | $78,493 | 48.7% |
| Albany | $17,120 | $17,167 | $19,000 | 45.7% | 26,226 | $78,493 | 48.7% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Top college in Schenectady, New York by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 80.4%, Union College
Union College
Top college in Schenectady, New York by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 37.0%, Union College
Union College
Most selective college in Schenectady, New York (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 43.9%, Union College
Union College
Top college in Schenectady, New York by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $68,407, Union College
Union College
Top college in Schenectady, New York by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $114,064, Union College
Union College
Top college in Schenectady, New York by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $63,219, Union College
Union College
Top college in Schenectady, New York by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $81,488, Union College
Union College
Top college in Schenectady, New York by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $88,604, Union College
Union College
Top college in Schenectady, New York by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $217,906, Union College
Union College
Most affordable college in Schenectady, New York (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $34,561, Union College
Union College
Top college in Schenectady, New York by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 90.2%, Union College
Union College
In-state tuition: Schenectady, New York vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Schenectady, New York median in-state tuition is $12,444, +125.8% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Schenectady, New York vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Schenectady, New York is $11,049 (-16.7% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $13,000.
Median earnings (10 years out): Schenectady, New York vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Schenectady, New York center around $88,604 (+62.9% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Schenectady, New York vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 37.0% at the median Schenectady, New York campus (-51.0 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Schenectady, New York median public in-state tuition is $12,444, about +125.8% vs the national median. Versus the Mid East region, tuition is +68.6%.
Median graduate debt is $11,049 (-16.7% below the U.S. median of $13,271). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Schenectady, New York are $88,604, about +62.9% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 37.0% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (-51.0 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 90.2% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 1.0% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 88.8% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Union College (37.0%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Schenectady, New York is 80.4% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Schenectady?
This city profile covers 5 campuses in Schenectady, New York with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Schenectady?
Median in-state tuition in Schenectady is $12,444 and median net price is $19,058. For New York overall, medians are $7,340 and $9,373; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Schenectady?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Schenectady is $88,604 vs $60,386 for New York and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Schenectady colleges?
Median completer debt in Schenectady is $11,049 vs $15,250 for New York and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Schenectady?
Top campuses on this page include Union College (graduation) and Union College (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Schenectady?
Among 5 College Scorecard campuses in Schenectady, New York, none are flagged as HBCUs or tribal colleges in IPEDS, and none meet our 25% Hispanic-enrollment HSI proxy or report a religious affiliation in IPEDS.
Sources & related
- New York college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
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