Empire State University

What's special

• Empire State University awards undergraduate college credit for verifiable learning gained outside traditional coursework through an individualized Credit for Prior Learning assessment process.

  Source: Individualized Credit for Prior Learning (iCPL)

• Undergraduates pursuing an individualized degree collaborate with a faculty mentor in an educational planning course to design a custom degree plan proposal.

  Source: Individualized Degree Design - SUNY Empire Academic Catalog

Written by us from the linked sources and checked against them on November 5, 2026. Programs and policies change, so confirm details with the school.

Getting in

Admit rate

Open admissionAdmits nearly everyone who applies.Source: College Scorecard

Test policy

Not reportedSource: College Scorecard

SAT (middle 50%)

Not reportedSource: College Scorecard

ACT (middle 50%)

Not reportedSource: College Scorecard

What it really costs

Most families pay less than the sticker price. Net price is what's left after grants and scholarships.

Average net price

$11,131full-time first-years who got grant aidSource: College Scorecard

Total cost of attendance

$20,825sticker price incl. housing, per yearSource: College Scorecard

Tuition, in-state

$7,648Source: College Scorecard

Tuition, out-of-state

$17,558Source: College Scorecard

After you enroll

Graduation rate

44%first-time, full-time students finishing within 6 yearsSource: College Scorecard

Came back for year two

66%full-time first-year studentsSource: College Scorecard

Median earnings

$59,50910 years after starting, for students who got federal aidSource: College Scorecard

Median debt at graduation

$18,750federal loans, students who finishedSource: College Scorecard

Students

Undergraduates

7,585Source: College Scorecard

Receive Pell grants

43%a sign of economic diversitySource: College Scorecard

First-generation students

45%parents didn't go beyond high schoolSource: College Scorecard

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