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Empire State University

#1913 in US ranking Saratoga Springs, NY
Type:
Public
Programs:
4 years or more

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Cost

Cost / year
$20,825
Tuition & fees
$7,648
Avg. aid
$6,143
Receiving aid
93%

Outcomes

Graduation rate
41%
Median salary
$55,950
1 yr after graduation

What are the graduation rates for students at Empire State University?

Reported graduation rates give a limited view of completion at Empire State University because many students enter with transfer credit or study on nontraditional schedules. IPEDS figures for 2024-25 report an overall graduation rate of 41%. The reported four-year rate is 28%, while the six-year rate is 36%; these measures should not be read as successive checkpoints for every student enrolled.

Federal graduation-rate measures commonly follow defined entering cohorts, especially first-time, full-time students. They do not describe the path of every transfer or part-time adult learner. Empire State enrolled far more transfer-in degree-seeking undergraduates than first-time degree-seeking undergraduates in the reported student data, making that distinction consequential. A reported student retention rate of 66% is another measure of continued enrollment, not a graduation rate. For an individual applicant, a program-level degree plan and realistic course load may be more informative than an institution-wide completion percentage alone.

What is the earning potential for graduates at Empire State University?

College Scorecard field-of-study figures report earnings for certain former Empire State University students about one year after completing a credential. These are observed earnings measures for qualifying students with available federal data, not salaries promised to everyone in a major.

For example, the reported one-year figure is $78,762 for registered nursing and $46,983 for business/commerce. The corresponding figures are $36,299 for psychology and $33,185 for general education. Such comparisons need context: credentials, occupations, prior work experience, location and the size of the measured group can differ substantially across fields. One-year earnings also cannot capture later career changes or the value of study for someone already employed. Applicants should compare the exact credential represented, likely borrowing and their intended occupation rather than treating a field figure as a personal salary forecast.

Empire State University Graduation Rate

Avg. graduation
41%
4-year graduation
28%
6-year graduation
36%

Empire State University Retention and Employment

First-year retention, full-time students
66%
First-year retention, part-time students
31%
Employed 1 year after graduation
94%

Empire State University Median Alumni Salary Over Time

1 year after graduation
$55,950
4 years after graduation
$63,250
5 years after graduation
$63,928
7 years after graduation
$66,796
10 years after starting college
$59,509

Alumni Salary for Empire State University Degrees

Degrees

Avg. salary

Business/Commerce, General

$46,983

Community Organization and Advocacy

$38,496

Education, General

$33,185

English Language and Literature/Letters, Other

$29,680

History

$37,928

Psychology, General

$36,299

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

$78,762

Social Sciences, General

$38,352

Visual and Performing Arts, General

$26,650

Empire State University Graduations Per Degree

BACHELOR’S Degree

Women Men Total

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

313231544

Public Administration and Social Service Professions

26495359

Psychology

22437261

Health Professions and Related Programs

11924143

Education

10414118

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

8533118

Physical Sciences

4960109

Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences

541468

Visual and Performing Arts

491564

History

191837

MASTER’S Degree

Women Men Total

Education

9932131

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

8041121

Health Professions and Related Programs

60969

Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services

62026

Social Sciences

19322

Psychology

16016

Public Administration and Social Service Professions

5510

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

527

History

426

Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services

112

Data last updated on November 2, 2026

Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026

Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.