Location: New Paltz, NY•In-State Tuition: $8,524•Out-of-State Tuition: $18,434•Admission Rate: 59%•Avg SAT: 1267
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$53,966
Est. from NY median (10 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$13,472
Est. from NY median (4 programs)

Analysis

New Paltz's business program appears positioned in the middle of New York's competitive landscape, with outcomes that peer programs suggest should run ahead of the national median. Similar business programs across the state typically produce first-year earnings around $54,000, rising to the mid-$60s by year four—solid progression that puts graduates above the national $47,500 benchmark. The estimated debt load of roughly $13,500 is notably lighter than both the state median ($23,000) and national median ($26,000), suggesting New Paltz delivers relatively affordable access to a business credential.

That debt-to-earnings picture—about a quarter of first-year income—looks manageable compared to many bachelor's programs. The four-year earnings figure of $65,129 is actual reported data for this cohort, confirming that graduates do reach respectable mid-career earnings that justify the initial investment. However, it's worth noting that top-tier programs in New York like NYU push well into the $70,000s right out of the gate, so this isn't the path to early peak earnings.

For families prioritizing value over prestige, the combination of moderate debt and steady earnings growth makes this program worth serious consideration. The key uncertainty is whether New Paltz specifically matches these peer program outcomes or falls short—but the fundamentals suggest a reasonable bet for students who want business training without excessive debt exposure.

Where State University of New York at New Paltz Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all business/commerce bachelors's programs nationally

State University of New York at New Paltz (estimated ±10%)Other business/commerce programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
State University of New York at New Paltz—$65,129—
New York University$77,828$115,546+48%
Excelsior University$53,553$72,606+36%
St Lawrence University$54,772$67,402+23%
Skidmore College$54,378$65,277+20%

Compare to Similar Programs in New York

Business/Commerce bachelors's programs at peer institutions in New York (21 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
State University of New York at New PaltzNew Paltz$8,524$53,966*$65,129$13,472*—
New York UniversityNew York$60,438$77,828*$115,546$19,500*0.25
CUNY Graduate School and University CenterNew York$7,410$65,520*$63,624$14,500*0.22
Empire State UniversitySaratoga Springs$7,630$57,225*$59,995$28,710*0.50
St Lawrence UniversityCanton$63,870$54,772*$67,402$26,113*0.48
Skidmore CollegeSaratoga Springs$65,030$54,378*$65,277$20,814*0.38
National Median—$47,506*—$26,000*0.55
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with business/commerce graduates

Sales Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer. Coordinate sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas, and goals and establish training programs for sales representatives. Analyze sales statistics gathered by staff to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and monitor the preferences of customers.

$138,060/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Industrial Production Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the work activities and resources necessary for manufacturing products in accordance with cost, quality, and quantity specifications.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Quality Control Systems Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate quality assurance programs. Formulate quality control policies and control quality of laboratory and production efforts.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Geothermal Production Managers

Manage operations at geothermal power generation facilities. Maintain and monitor geothermal plant equipment for efficient and safe plant operations.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biofuels Production Managers

Manage biofuels production and plant operations. Collect and process information on plant production and performance, diagnose problems, and design corrective procedures.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biomass Power Plant Managers

Manage operations at biomass power generation facilities. Direct work activities at plant, including supervision of operations and maintenance staff.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Hydroelectric Production Managers

Manage operations at hydroelectric power generation facilities. Maintain and monitor hydroelectric plant equipment for efficient and safe plant operations.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Construction Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate, usually through subordinate supervisory personnel, activities concerned with the construction and maintenance of structures, facilities, and systems. Participate in the conceptual development of a construction project and oversee its organization, scheduling, budgeting, and implementation. Includes managers in specialized construction fields, such as carpentry or plumbing.

$106,980/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Administrative Services Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate one or more administrative services of an organization, such as records and information management, mail distribution, and other office support services.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Facilities Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate operations and functionalities of facilities and buildings. May include surrounding grounds or multiple facilities of an organization's campus.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Security Managers

Direct an organization's security functions, including physical security and safety of employees and facilities.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Chief Executives

Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At State University of New York at New Paltz, approximately 33% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 10 similar programs in NY. Actual outcomes may vary.