Watertown, New York Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
Executive Summary (TL;DR)
Colleges in Watertown, New York: median public in-state tuition $14,618 (+165.2% vs national median) median graduate debt $10,216 (-23.0% vs U.S.) 1,522 students enrolled statewide.
Overview
Colleges and universities in Watertown serve students across New York with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 2 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 1,522 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $14,618. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Watertown, New York and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Watertown 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watertown, New York | $14,618 | $11,923 | $10,216 | N/A | 1,522 |
| 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: Watertown, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watertown, New York | N/A | N/A | N/A | — | — | N/A | N/A |
| 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watertown, New York | $14,618 | $11,923 | $10,216 | N/A | 1,522 | N/A | N/A |
| 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% |
In-state tuition: Watertown, New York vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Watertown, New York median in-state tuition is $14,618, +165.2% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Watertown, New York vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Watertown, New York is $10,216 (-23.0% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $13,000.
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
Watertown, New York median public in-state tuition is $14,618, about +165.2% vs the national median. Versus the Mid East region, tuition is +98.0%.
Median graduate debt is $10,216 (-23.0% 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Watertown?
This city profile covers 2 campuses in Watertown, New York with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Watertown?
Median in-state tuition in Watertown is $14,618 and median net price is $11,923. 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 Watertown?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Watertown is N/A vs $60,386 for New York and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Watertown colleges?
Median completer debt in Watertown is $10,216 vs $15,250 for New York and $13,271 nationally.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Watertown?
Among 2 College Scorecard campuses in Watertown, 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
- Download: JSON