Public Certificate Strong 80/100

Western Suffolk BOCES

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

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Northport, New York

About Western Suffolk BOCES

Thinking about Western Suffolk BOCES, a college in New York where more students graduate in Health than anything else? The four things worth knowing are what it actually costs after aid, whether you would get in, whether students finish, and what they earn after they do.

Western Suffolk BOCES is a public institution offering certificate degrees based in Northport, New York. It enrolls 286 students (a very small, intimate student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Every figure on this page is reported by the federal government, not supplied by the college, so it can be compared like for like against anywhere else you are looking.

Acceptance
Open
Graduation
83.4%
Net Price
—
Median Earnings (10yr)
$49,667
Enrollment
286
Student : Faculty
11:1

Accreditor Council on Occupational Education
Academic Calendar Differs by Program

How It Measures Up

These four scores answer one question: compared with similar colleges, is this one worth the money? Each runs 0 to 100 and is judged only against its peer group (2-Year), so a community college is never marked down for not being Harvard. Everything is computed from federal data. Nobody can pay to move a score, and a pillar with missing data is left unscored rather than guessed.

Strong
80/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes 93
Value —
Affordability 49
Selectivity —

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

As a two-year college, Western Suffolk BOCES admits essentially everyone who qualifies, so plan around cost and completion instead of your odds of getting in.

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

Cost & Financial Aid

Ignore the sticker price. What matters is the net price, which is what a typical family pays here after grants and scholarships come off. Western Suffolk BOCES has not reported one, so ask the financial aid office for a written estimate before comparing it against anywhere else.

Average Net Price
—
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
36%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
49%
Borrowing to attend

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.

$3,500
10% percentile
$5,500
25% percentile
$11,339
Median percentile
$14,250
75% percentile
$19,055
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 $9,500 ↓ $1,839
No Pell $12,000 ↑ $661
Dependent students $8,000 ↓ $3,339
Independent students $11,750 ↑ $411
Female students $9,500 ↓ $1,839
Male students $11,905 ↑ $566
Pell recipients: 15.2% (1,719 students)No Pell: 19.2% (2,172 students)Dependent students: 12.8% (1,448 students)Independent students: 18.8% (2,126 students)Female students: 15.2% (1,719 students)Male students: 19.0% (2,155 students)Overall Median$11,339
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $4,750, less than completers ($11,339), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

83% of students who start here finish within six years, and 87% come back after first year. Most people who start here leave with the degree they came for. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

Completion and earnings carry the most weight in this college's score, and how the UCD Score weighs each measure sets out exactly how they are combined.

6-Year Graduation Rate
83%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
87%
Returning for their second year
What this means: Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

Ten years after starting here, the median student earns $49,667 a year, close to the national median. Typical for most colleges, so what you study will matter more than where. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$49,667
Earning > $25K
70%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

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

$48,000$52,000$56,000$59,000$63,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

Earnings by Demographic

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

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 ↑ 3.3 pts across 6 years
66.1%1yr67.7%3yr73%5yr69.4%7yr
What this signals: Moderate. Only 69% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Who you would actually be sitting next to: 286 students, an intimate, close-knit community. Worth knowing: 40% are the first in their family to go to college.

Total Enrolled
286
Part-Time
6%
First-Generation
40%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

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

GroupShareStudents
White 43.0% 123
Hispanic 21.3% 61
Black 16.1% 46
Asian 7.7% 22
Other 7.0% 20
White: 43.0% (123 students)Hispanic: 21.3% (61 students)Black: 16.1% (46 students)Asian: 7.7% (22 students)Other: 7.0% (20 students)Total286

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Western Suffolk BOCES. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Large Suburb Northport, New York
Housing
Commuter campus No on-campus housing
Adult Learners
58% of students are 25 or older
Academic Calendar
Differs by Program scheduling structure

What You Can Study

After that comes the national picture for Personal Services graduates, which shows what the field pays across every college rather than just this one.

Western Suffolk BOCES offers a focused set of programs: 4 distinct programs across 3 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.

2 Programs
1 Program

Faculty & Resources

There are 11 students for every instructor here: about average, so expect a mix of small seminars and big lectures.

Student : Faculty
11:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$6,500
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student

Pros & Cons of Western Suffolk BOCES

No college is right for everyone. Here is where Western Suffolk BOCES is likely to suit you and where it may not, based on the same figures shown above.

Read against a single profile these cut both ways, which is why it helps to put two colleges side by side on the same measures rather than judging one in isolation.

PROS
  • Open admissions
  • Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
  • Tight-knit, close community feel
  • Strong six-year graduation rate
  • Strong first-year retention
  • Low typical debt at graduation
CONS
  • Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Best for: Based on the data, Western Suffolk BOCES 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 Western Suffolk BOCES

The questions families ask most about Western Suffolk BOCES, answered straight from the federal data rather than from the college's own marketing.

Is Western Suffolk BOCES hard to get into?
Not especially. Western Suffolk BOCES admits most qualified applicants, and reports no competitive acceptance rate. Plan around cost and whether students finish, not your odds of getting in.
What is the acceptance rate at Western Suffolk BOCES?
No acceptance rate is reported, which for a college like this normally means admission is open to anyone meeting the basic requirements. Confirm with the admissions office rather than assuming it.
What is Western Suffolk BOCES known for?
Mostly Cosmetology, Allied Health Diagnostic, Vehicle Maintenance. Those are the fields where it awards the most degrees, which is a better guide to where the teaching strength sits than any reputation ranking. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
What do Western Suffolk BOCES graduates earn?
About $49,667 a year, measured ten years after students first enrolled. Half earn more and half earn less, and what you study moves that figure far more than where you study. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Western Suffolk BOCES accredited?
Yes. Western Suffolk BOCES is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education.
How many students attend Western Suffolk BOCES?
286 students. Small enough that you will recognize faces across campus, and small enough that course choice can be limited. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
What is the graduation rate at Western Suffolk BOCES?
83% finish within six years. Most people who start here graduate, which is the signal you want. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Is Western Suffolk BOCES a public or private college?
It is Public. Public, so in-state students usually pay materially less than everyone else.
Where is Western Suffolk BOCES located?
Western Suffolk BOCES is located in Northport, New York.
What programs does Western Suffolk BOCES offer?
4 different programs, most commonly Cosmetology, Allied Health Diagnostic, Vehicle Maintenance. If the subject you want is not among them, check the full list before applying rather than assuming it is offered.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Western Suffolk BOCES?
11 students per instructor. Low enough that staff are likely to know who you are. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

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