Information Science/Studies at Excelsior University

Excelsior University's Information Science program posts remarkable numbers—$88,713 in first-year earnings against just $16,667 in debt—that place it at the top of both national and New York rankings. That's $17,000 ahead of Syracuse, $35,000 above the state median, and more than $30,000 better than the national average for this degree. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.19 is exceptional, meaning graduates earn back their student loans more than five times over in their first year alone.

The challenge here is the small sample size. With fewer than 30 graduates in this cohort, these figures could reflect a particularly successful group rather than typical outcomes. Excelsior's online-focused model attracts many working professionals who already have career connections, which might explain the unusually high starting salaries. It's also possible some graduates were already employed in the field while completing their degree, which would inflate the earnings picture.

If these numbers hold at scale, this represents an outstanding value—low debt, exceptional earnings, and outcomes that dwarf the competition. But the thin data means you're placing a bigger bet on what might not be representative. Request multi-year outcome data from the school before assuming your child will match these results.