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Oswego, New York aerial viewPhoto: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0
Colleges in and near Oswego

Oswego is a college town: 46 of every 100 residents are students

State University of New York at Oswego (5,577 students on campus) is inside the town. Across New York, 7 of every 100 residents are enrolled in college.

College town46% of residents are studentsState University of New York at Oswego

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Oswego. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
1
5,577 students on campus
Nearest college
3.7 mi
SUNY Oswego
Residents in college
46%
Above NY (7%)
Nearest community college
31.5 mi
St. Joseph's College of Nursing · $23,816 tuition
Nearest public university
3.7 mi
SUNY Oswego · $8,825 in-state
Students on campus in Oswego
5,577
next to 8,505 residents

What stands out about college in Oswego

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A college town46 of every 100 Oswego residents are enrolled in college, against 7 across New York.A university in OswegoState University of New York at Oswego has 5,577 students on campus in Oswego, 60% of whom graduate within six years.In-state price at SUNY OswegoLiving in New York, State University of New York at Oswego charges $8,825 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $18,735. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 31.5 miles awaySt. Joseph's College of Nursing in Syracuse: tuition and fees $23,816 a year for New York residents.
Town & gown

What it’s like to live in Oswego

How much the colleges shape the town, from the Census Bureau’s survey of residents.

46 of every 100 Oswego residents are in college (NY: 7).

5,577students on campus at State University of New York at Oswego, next to 8,505 residents (dorm students count as residents)
286college students live in Oswego households rather than dorms
20.7median age · NY 39.8
16%of homes rented · NY 46%
$1,091median rent · 33% below the state
OswegoOswego, NY
Cost of living$1,091/mo median rentB−SafetyCrime reported to the FBIHealthCDC estimatesBJobs & incomeIncome, jobs, getting aroundC−HandbookTrash day, parking, who to call

How students change Oswego’s other numbers

Read the town’s other grades with this in mind. How TownRatings handles college towns →

Jobs & income C−

Students who live off campus count in the Census poverty figures: 17.8% of Oswego residents are below the poverty line, 16.9% when college students are left out (that estimate could be off by 10 points either way). 33% of the students themselves are below the line. In college towns, the Jobs & income grade uses the rate without students and leaves unemployment out.

Cost of living B−

The Cost grade leaves out the share of renters paying 30% or more of income on rent wherever students are a quarter of residents or more (46% here): it would mostly measure student incomes.

Health B

CDC’s estimates follow each place’s age mix, and Oswego’s median age is 20.7 (New York 39.8), so the adult figures describe a young population.

Safety

Crime is counted per resident, and students who live here count as residents. A college with its own police department reports its incidents under that department, not the city.

Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Oswego

It is public. Every other college is more than 15 miles from Oswego.

5 mi10 mi15 miSUNY OswegoOswego
University or collegeCommunity college
State University of New York at OswegoUniversity or college · Public · 5,577 on campus · In Oswego81%admitted$16knet price60%graduate$58kearnings

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $75–110k, where Oswego’s median household income ($78,083) falls.

State University of New York at OswegoIn Oswego · sticker $27,052$19,053a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Oswego: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →SUNY Oswego
State University of New York at Oswego60% graduate$58k earnings$21k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.

Majors

What students study in Oswego

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at State University of New York at Oswego, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Business 23%Communication 12%Education 10%Visual & performing arts 9%Psychology 8%Biology 7%Everything else 31%

Biggest programs

Business Administration, Management and Operations197 graduates a year
$66k4 yrs out
Criminal Justice and Corrections119 graduates a year
$60k4 yrs out
Psychology, General103 graduates a year
$52k4 yrs out
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication92 graduates a year
$48k4 yrs out
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas78 graduates a year
$59k4 yrs out
Marketing46 graduates a year
$67k4 yrs out
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods44 graduates a year
$58k4 yrs out
Biology, General43 graduates a year
$59k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Oswego

Is Oswego a college town?

Yes. 46 of every 100 Oswego residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), against 7 across New York. State University of New York at Oswego has 5,577 students on campus, next to 8,505 residents.

What colleges are in Oswego?

State University of New York at Oswego is inside the town. St. Joseph's College of Nursing is 31.5 miles away in Syracuse.

Why is Oswego’s poverty rate so high?

Students who live off campus count in the Census figures. 17.8% of residents are below the poverty line; leaving college students out, 16.9% are (ACS 2020–24, give or take 10 points).

What is the closest community college to Oswego, and what does it cost?

St. Joseph's College of Nursing in Syracuse, 31.5 miles away. Tuition and fees are $23,816 a year for New York residents.

How hard is it to get into State University of New York at Oswego?

State University of New York at Oswego admitted 81% of applicants in the Scorecard’s latest year; the middle half of admitted students scored 1,070–1,270 on the SAT.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Oswego. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →