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Utica, New York skylinePhoto: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0
Colleges in and near Utica

Utica is home to three colleges, with 7,470 students on campus

Mohawk Valley Community College (5,194 students on campus) and Utica University (2,130) are inside the city, and SUNY Polytechnic Institute (1,798) is 2.9 miles from the center, just over the line in Marcy. About 7% of Utica’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as New York (7%).

Mohawk Valley Community CollegeUtica UniversitySUNY Polytechnic Institute

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 Utica. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
6
12,735 students on campus
Nearest college
1.4 mi
Mohawk Valley
Residents in college
7%
About the same as NY (7%)
Nearest community college
1.4 mi
Mohawk Valley · $6,218 tuition
Nearest public university
2.9 mi
SUNY Polytechnic Institute · $8,625 in-state
Median household income
$52K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Utica

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

Three colleges within 2.9 milesUtica University admits 92% of applicants; SUNY Polytechnic Institute admits 81%. Together they have 9,122 students on campus.A community college 1.4 miles awayMohawk Valley Community College in Utica: tuition and fees $6,218 a year for New York residents.In-state price at SUNY Polytechnic InstituteLiving in New York, SUNY Polytechnic Institute charges $8,625 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $21,215. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 7% of residentsAbout the same as New York (7%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Utica

Three private colleges within 9.7 miles, one public college within 2.9 miles, and three community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miMohawk ValleyUtica UniversityHamilton CollegeUtica
University or collegeCommunity college
Mohawk Valley Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,194 on campus · In Utica$9knet price38%graduate$40kearningsTuition and fees: $6,218 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Saint Elizabeth College of NursingCommunity college · Private nonprofit · 146 on campus · In Utica100%admitted$72kearningsUtica UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,130 on campus · In Utica92%admitted$19knet price56%graduate$63kearningsSUNY Polytechnic InstituteUniversity or college · Public · 1,798 on campus · 2.9 mi · Utica81%admitted$14knet price55%graduate$64kearningsHamilton CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,048 on campus · 9.7 mi · Clinton14%admitted$29knet price91%graduate$78kearningsHerkimer County Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 1,419 on campus · 11.9 mi · Herkimer$13knet price35%graduate$39kearningsTuition and fees: $5,776 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.

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 $48–75k, where Utica’s median household income ($52,484) falls.

Mohawk Valley Community CollegeIn Utica · sticker $16,656 · tuition $6,218$10,602a year
Hamilton College9.7 mi · Clinton · sticker $84,230$10,863a year
SUNY Polytechnic Institute2.9 mi · Utica · sticker $23,741$13,934a year
Herkimer County Community College11.9 mi · Herkimer · sticker $20,149 · tuition $5,776$14,915a year
Utica UniversityIn Utica · sticker $37,205$16,439a 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 Utica: 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 →Mohawk ValleyUtica UniversitySUNY Polytechnic InstituteHamilton CollegeHerkimer County
Mohawk Valley Community College38% graduate$40k earnings$11k typical debt
Utica University56% graduate$63k earnings$22k typical debt
Hamilton College91% graduate$78k earnings$17k typical debt
SUNY Polytechnic Institute55% graduate$64k earnings$17k typical debt
Herkimer County Community College35% graduate$39k earnings$11k 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 Utica

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Utica’s 3 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Health professions 30%Business 13%Liberal arts 11%Mechanics & repair 8%Public safety 7%Precision production 4%Everything else 28%

Biggest programs

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingUtica University · 252 graduates a year
$95k4 yrs out
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesMohawk Valley Community College · 224 graduates a year
$41k4 yrs out
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/TechniciansMohawk Valley Community College · 84 graduates a year
$60k4 yrs out
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, GeneralUtica University · 83 graduates a year
$62k4 yrs out
Homeland SecurityUtica University · 76 graduates a year
$83k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsMohawk Valley Community College · 53 graduates a year
$53k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingSaint Elizabeth College of Nursing · 53 graduates a year
$82k4 yrs out
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsUtica University · 50 graduates a year
$70k4 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 Utica

Is Utica a college town?

No. About 7 of every 100 Utica residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as New York (7). The largest campus in the city, Mohawk Valley Community College, has 5,194 students on campus.

What colleges are in Utica?

Mohawk Valley Community College, Utica University and Saint Elizabeth College of Nursing are inside the city. SUNY Polytechnic Institute is 2.9 miles from the center, in Marcy.

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

Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica, 1.4 miles away. Tuition and fees are $6,218 a year for New York residents; the federal net price, $8,987, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does SUNY Polytechnic Institute cost if we live in New York?

Tuition and fees are $8,625 a year in-state and $21,215 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $7,442 (under $30,000 income) to $20,613 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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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 Utica. 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 →