State University of New York at Cortland

What are the graduation rates for students at State University of New York at Cortland?

SUNY Cortland's reported four-year graduation rate is 56%, while its six-year rate is 68%. These measures describe completion by tracked cohorts of first-time, full-time students pursuing bachelor's degrees; they should not be read as the graduation probability for every transfer or part-time student.

The difference between the rates shows that some students finish after four years but within six. Reported first-year retention is 81%, meaning most students in the measured entering group returned for the following year. Retention and graduation statistics are useful for comparing patterns, but they do not explain why an individual student stays, leaves, changes schools, or takes longer to complete a degree.

What is the earning potential for graduates at State University of New York at Cortland?

College Scorecard field-of-study figures provide a limited view of earnings approximately one year after completion for graduates represented in its federal-aid-linked data. They are program-specific reported medians, not starting-salary offers or a forecast for every SUNY Cortland graduate.

Examples include $43,864 for special education and teaching, $39,955 for teacher education focused on specific levels and methods, and $36,536 for communication and media studies. The reported figure for psychology is $30,182. A difference between programs may reflect the kinds of jobs graduates take, further education, geography, and which graduates appear in the underlying records; it does not establish that one major causes a particular salary.

The one-year measure also misses longer-term career growth and nonfinancial outcomes. It can be especially hard to interpret for fields in which graduates commonly pursue additional degrees or professional credentials. Students comparing programs should consider completion requirements, likely next steps, and employment opportunities alongside an early earnings figure.