Business Administration, Management and Operations at Alfred University

The small sample size here matters—with fewer than 30 graduates, one or two outliers can significantly skew these numbers. That said, the pattern is concerning enough to warrant attention: Alfred's business graduates start at $36,059, nearly $10,000 below the national median and $6,000 below New York's median. While the program sits at the 40th percentile statewide (essentially middle-of-the-pack for New York), it ranks in just the 12th percentile nationally, and that's after accounting for the program's location.

The $26,000 debt load equals the national median but represents 72% of first-year earnings—a tighter squeeze than you'd expect from a business degree. The 28% earnings jump to $46,262 by year four offers some relief, though even that lags behind what graduates from Syracuse ($65,009) or Clarkson ($65,887) achieve. For context, business programs typically offer reliable middle-class outcomes, but Alfred's version appears to underperform that norm.

Given the uncertainty around these numbers and the clear gap between Alfred's outcomes and stronger New York business programs, families should explore whether specific concentrations or career services explain the difference—or whether alternatives like SUNY business schools might offer better value for similar or lower costs.