Public Health at Bryant & Stratton College-Syracuse North

Bryant & Stratton's Public Health program carries the highest debt burden among any public health program in New York state—$52,060 compared to a state median of $26,000—yet delivers earnings below the state median. At 40th percentile statewide, graduates here earn about $2,000 less annually than typical New York public health grads, while shouldering twice the debt load. The numbers get starker when compared to other New York options: CUNY Hunter College graduates earn $10,000 more per year while typically carrying far less debt.

The lack of earnings growth compounds the problem. Graduates earn essentially the same four years out ($37,428) as they do immediately after graduation ($37,548), suggesting limited career advancement. With 65% of students receiving Pell grants, this debt burden hits a particularly vulnerable population. That 1.39 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates face student loan payments equivalent to nearly 1.4 years of full income—a heavy lift for entry-level public health salaries.

For families considering this program, the math is challenging. Public universities like CUNY Hunter deliver better outcomes at lower cost, and even private institutions like Syracuse show stronger earnings trajectories. Unless there are compelling geographic or scheduling constraints that make Bryant & Stratton uniquely accessible, the debt-to-value equation here argues strongly for exploring alternative programs within New York's public health landscape.