Albany, New York Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Albany, New York: median public in-state tuition $17,120 (+210.6% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $78,493 (+44.3% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 48.7% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $19,000 (+43.2% vs U.S.) 26,226 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 11 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 26,226 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $17,120 (+210.6% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $78,493 (+44.3% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 48.7% (-39.3 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $17,167 (+72.2% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $19,000 (+43.2% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $13,000
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 45.7%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 84.6%
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Overview
Colleges and universities in Albany serve students across New York with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 11 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 26,226 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $17,120. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Albany, New York and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Albany 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany, New York | $17,120 | $17,167 | $19,000 | 45.7% | 26,226 |
| 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: Albany, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany, New York | $78,493 | 48.7% | 84.6% | 4.0% | — | 74.0% | 0.19 |
| 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany, New York | $17,120 | $17,167 | $19,000 | 45.7% | 26,226 | $78,493 | 48.7% |
| 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% |
| Syracuse | $21,758 | $20,614 | $15,000 | 73.1% | 24,683 | $62,731 | 45.5% |
| Queens | $30,279 | $17,097 | $17,649 | 59.7% | 22,027 | $66,167 | 44.0% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Top college in Albany, 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, 61.5%, University at Albany
University at Albany
Top 2 colleges in Albany, 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, 70.8%, Excelsior University
Excelsior University
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 41.5%, University at Albany
University at Albany
Most selective college in Albany, 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, 69.1%, University at Albany
University at Albany
Top 3 colleges in Albany, 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, $110,398, Excelsior University
Excelsior University
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $65,604, University at Albany
University at Albany
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Rank 3, Entry-Level Earnings, $40,169, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Top 3 colleges in Albany, 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, $119,783, Excelsior University
Excelsior University
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $103,659, University at Albany
University at Albany
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Rank 3, Early-Career Earnings, $84,423, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Top 2 colleges in Albany, 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, $63,796, Excelsior University
Excelsior University
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $51,380, University at Albany
University at Albany
Top 2 colleges in Albany, 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, $75,790, Excelsior University
Excelsior University
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $60,335, University at Albany
University at Albany
Top 2 colleges in Albany, 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, $78,493, Excelsior University
Excelsior University
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $67,979, University at Albany
University at Albany
Top 2 colleges in Albany, 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, $467,200, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $213,874, University at Albany
University at Albany
Top 2 most affordable colleges in Albany, 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, $17,167, University at Albany
University at Albany
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Rank 2, Net Price, $29,882, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Top college in Albany, 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, 83.4%, University at Albany
University at Albany
In-state tuition: Albany, New York vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Albany, New York median in-state tuition is $17,120, +210.6% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Albany, New York vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Albany, New York is $19,000 (+43.2% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $13,000.
Median earnings (10 years out): Albany, New York vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Albany, New York center around $78,493 (+44.3% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Albany, 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 48.7% at the median Albany, New York campus (-39.3 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
Albany, New York median public in-state tuition is $17,120, about +210.6% vs the national median. Versus the Mid East region, tuition is +131.9%.
Median graduate debt is $19,000 (+43.2% above 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 Albany, New York are $78,493, about +44.3% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 48.7% 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% (-39.3 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 84.6% 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 4.0% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 74.0% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Excelsior University (70.8%), University at Albany (41.5%)—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 Albany, New York is 45.7% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Albany?
This city profile covers 11 campuses in Albany, New York with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Albany?
Median in-state tuition in Albany is $17,120 and median net price is $17,167. 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 Albany?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Albany is $78,493 vs $60,386 for New York and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Albany colleges?
Median completer debt in Albany is $19,000 vs $15,250 for New York and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Albany?
Top campuses on this page include University at Albany (graduation) and Excelsior University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Albany?
Among 11 campuses in Albany, New York, 1 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campus (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Roman Catholic (1).
Sources & related
- New York college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON