Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations at Long Island University

Long Island University charges an estimated $27,000 in debt for a specialized marketing bachelor's degree that, based on comparable New York programs, leads to first-year earnings around $35,700. That debt load isn't catastrophic—it's roughly in line with the $26,000 median for similar programs nationally—but the earnings figure places this program squarely in the middle of New York's pack, well behind what graduates from Marist ($47,100) or FIT ($42,700) typically earn.

The 0.76 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests manageable monthly payments, but context matters here. New York has only eight programs in this specialized field, and the state median earnings match the national figure almost exactly at $35,700. That means graduates aren't benefiting from a premium for working in one of the country's most expensive metro areas. When your first-year salary barely exceeds $35,000 in a region where studio apartments can run $2,000+ per month, the math gets tight quickly, even with reasonable debt levels.

Given LIU's 90% admission rate and the availability of stronger-earning programs at similar price points in New York, parents should ask pointed questions about what distinguishes this program's career outcomes. The estimates here suggest a typical result for the field—neither a red flag nor a standout opportunity—but without actual outcome data from LIU itself, you're betting on an average outcome in a competitive market where some schools are clearly delivering better returns.