Public Associate Good 56/100

Onondaga Community College

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Syracuse, New York

About Onondaga Community College

Onondaga Community College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Syracuse, New York. It enrolls 4,456 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Acceptance
Open
Graduation
19.8%
Net Price
$8,562
Median Earnings (10yr)
$41,190
Enrollment
4,456
Student : Faculty
19:1

Accreditor Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Good
56/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes 14
Value 65
Affordability 45
Selectivity

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

As a two-year college, Onondaga Community College generally admits all qualified applicants.

Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Onondaga Community College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $8,562 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price
$8,562
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
28%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
18%
Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$6,102
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$11,392
Room & Board (on-campus)
$11,862
Room & Board (off-campus)
$14,160
Books & Supplies
$700
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,200
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,200
Total Cost of Attendance
$16,585

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

  • Under $30,000
    $5,490
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $6,958
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $10,307
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $13,269
  • Over $110,000
    $15,707

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$2,000
10% percentile
$3,364
25% percentile
$10,000
Median percentile
$10,546
75% percentile
$15,750
90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $5,500 ↓ $4,500
No Pell $5,500 ↓ $4,500
Dependent students $5,500 ↓ $4,500
Independent students $8,000 ↓ $2,000
Female students $5,989 ↓ $4,011
Male students $5,500 ↓ $4,500
Pell recipients: 15.3% (1,528 students)No Pell: 15.3% (1,528 students)Dependent students: 15.3% (1,528 students)Independent students: 22.2% (2,223 students)Female students: 16.6% (1,664 students)Male students: 15.3% (1,528 students)Overall Median$10,000
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($10,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

20% of full-time students who enrolled at Onondaga Community College graduate within six years, and 54% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate
20%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
54%
Returning for their second year
What this means: Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Onondaga Community College earn a median of $41,190 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$41,190
Earning > $25K
67%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$33,000$35,000$38,000$40,000$42,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates
$32,800

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates
$39,900

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.


By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)
$32,800

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)
$37,900

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)
$40,200

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $7,100, about 18% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
What this means: Solid return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$4.8 of median earnings 10 years out.

Who Studies Here

Onondaga Community College is home to 4,456 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 40% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled
4,456
Part-Time
30%
First-Generation
40%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
White 54.4% 2,425
Black 18.7% 834
Hispanic 8.7% 387
Other 7.5% 335
Asian 4.7% 210
International 0.7% 32
White: 54.4% (2,425 students)Black: 18.7% (834 students)Hispanic: 8.7% (387 students)Other: 7.5% (335 students)Asian: 4.7% (210 students)International: 0.7% (32 students)Total4,456

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Onondaga Community College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Large Suburb Syracuse, New York
Housing
Partly residential 771 beds available
Adult Learners
14% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Onondaga Community College offers a varied set of programs: 37 distinct programs across 18 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

1 Program
9 Programs
1 Program
3 Programs
1 Program
  • Human $49K ($35K–$63K)
2 Programs
2 Programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Onondaga Community College is 19:1, on the higher side.

Student : Faculty
19:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$5,596
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$14M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$63,371
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

114 instructional faculty across 5 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank Faculty Count Share Avg Salary
Full Professors 47 41% $77,846
Associate Professors 33 29% $57,148
Assistant Professors 22 19% $53,385
Instructors 3 3% $45,358
No Rank 9 8% $41,009

Pros & Cons of Onondaga Community College

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Onondaga Community College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS
  • Very affordable net price after aid
  • Open admissions
  • Low typical debt at graduation
CONS
  • Class sizes are on the higher side
  • Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
  • First-year retention is below typical
  • Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Best for: Based on the data, Onondaga Community College is a fit for students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low.

Frequently Asked Questions about Onondaga Community College

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Onondaga Community College.

Is Onondaga Community College hard to get into?
Onondaga Community College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Onondaga Community College?
Onondaga Community College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Onondaga Community College cost?
The average net price after aid at Onondaga Community College is $8,562 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Onondaga Community College worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $41,190 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $8,562 per year. That's roughly 4.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Onondaga Community College known for?
Onondaga Community College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Business Administration, Human. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Onondaga Community College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Onondaga Community College are $41,190, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Onondaga Community College accredited?
Yes. Onondaga Community College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Onondaga Community College?
Onondaga Community College enrolls 4,456 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Onondaga Community College?
Onondaga Community College graduates 20% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Onondaga Community College a public or private college?
Onondaga Community College is a Public institution.
Where is Onondaga Community College located?
Onondaga Community College is located in Syracuse, New York.
What programs does Onondaga Community College offer?
Onondaga Community College offers 37 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Business Administration, Human.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Onondaga Community College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Onondaga Community College is 19:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

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