Human Development, Family Studies, at Binghamton University

Binghamton's Human Development program punches above its weight nationally, landing at the 75th percentile—meaning it outperforms three-quarters of similar programs across the country. With starting earnings of $36,213 and moderate debt of $19,500, graduates face a manageable 0.54 debt-to-earnings ratio, about half what they earn in their first year. That's a notably lighter burden than the national median debt of $25,000 for this field.

Within New York, the program holds its own at the 60th percentile, essentially matching the state median and sitting comfortably between SUNY Oneonta and Cornell (which edges ahead by just $2,200). The 24% earnings growth to $44,767 by year four suggests solid career progression, particularly valuable in a field where entry-level salaries tend to be modest. For a SUNY school with Binghamton's academic profile—38% admission rate and 1415 average SAT—these outcomes represent strong value.

The field itself isn't a high-earning one, so families should go in clear-eyed about that reality. But if your child is drawn to human services, education, or social work careers, Binghamton offers a cost-effective path with lower debt than most alternatives and earnings that outpace typical program outcomes. The combination of reasonable SUNY tuition and better-than-average results makes this worth serious consideration.