Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Binghamton University

Binghamton's nursing program costs just $23,750 in median debt—notably lower than both the state and national median of $27,000—while producing first-year earnings of $86,404. That's a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.27, meaning graduates typically owe less than three months' salary, an exceptionally manageable financial position for launching a nursing career.

Here's the wrinkle: while these graduates earn well above the national median ($74,888) and land in the 87th percentile nationally, they're earning below the New York state median of $89,296, placing them at just the 40th percentile among Empire State nursing programs. New York's nursing market is unusually lucrative—the top five programs all produce graduates earning over $111,000—so this middle-of-the-pack state ranking still represents strong outcomes in absolute terms. The slight earnings dip from year one to year four ($2,811) likely reflects geographic variation in where graduates practice rather than career stagnation.

For families prioritizing affordability and solid outcomes, this program delivers. You're getting SUNY-level tuition with earnings that would be excellent anywhere outside New York's hyper-competitive nursing market. If your child plans to stay in New York long-term, they might earn less than peers from specialized nursing colleges in NYC, but they'll graduate with thousands less in debt and still earn substantially above the national average.