Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Paul Smiths, New York. It enrolls 579 students (a small, tight-knit 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.
AccreditorMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
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 (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Fair
53/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes41
Value11
Affordability42
Selectivity50
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 76.5%, Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
76.5%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
20.9 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science 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 $26,683 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$26,683
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
36%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
72%
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
$33,009
Room & Board (on-campus)
$14,236
Room & Board (off-campus)
$14,236
Books & Supplies
$1,000
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,500
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,500
Total Cost of Attendance
$51,506
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
$16,732
$30,001 – $48,000
$17,877
$48,001 – $75,000
$23,253
$75,001 – $110,000
$29,288
Over $110,000
$32,048
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.
$3,50010%percentile
$8,25025%percentile
$22,750Medianpercentile
$26,00075%percentile
$29,75090%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 $17,500
↓ $5,250
No Pell $16,250
↓ $6,500
Dependent students $16,575
↓ $6,175
Independent students $22,000
↓ $750
Female students $18,500
↓ $4,250
Male students $14,750
↓ $8,000
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,250, less than completers ($22,750), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
48% of full-time students who enrolled at Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science graduate within six years, and 76% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
48%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
76%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science earn a median of $46,145 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$46,145
Earning > $25K
79%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
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
$29,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$42,000
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$34,600
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$37,600
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$41,100
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $12,300, about 29% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Stable ↑
4.4 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 87% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science is home to 579 students, a small, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
579
Part-Time
1%
First-Generation
30%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 83.8%485
Other 6.4%37
Black 3.6%21
Asian 0.9%5
International 0.9%5
Hispanic 0.4%2
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Rural: DistantPaul Smiths, New York
Housing
Strongly residential735 beds for 579 students
Adult Learners
3%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science offers
a varied set of programs:
25 distinct programs across
9 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.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science is 12:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$62M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$49,826
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
49 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
21
43%
$49,381
Associate Professors
13
27%
$56,062
Assistant Professors
10
20%
$54,867
Instructors
3
6%
$41,933
Lecturers
2
4%
$24,650
Pros & Cons of Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
CONS
Above-average net price
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Below-average completion rate
Modest first-year retention
Most students take on federal loans
Best for:
Based on the data, Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science.
Is Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science hard to get into?
Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 76.5%.
What is the acceptance rate at Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science?
Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science has an acceptance rate of 76.5%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science cost?
The average net price after aid at Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science is $26,683 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $46,145 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $26,683 per year. That's roughly 1.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science known for?
Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science is best known for its programs in Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy, Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management, Forestry. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science are $46,145, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science accredited?
Yes. Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science?
Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science enrolls 579 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science?
Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science graduates 48% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science a public or private college?
Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science located?
Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science is located in Paul Smiths, New York.
What programs does Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science offer?
Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science offers 25 distinct programs. The most popular include Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy, Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management, Forestry.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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