Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences at Maria College of Albany

Maria College's Health Services program graduates earn slightly below New York's median for this degree—$34,127 versus $34,538 statewide—landing in the 40th percentile among Empire State programs. However, what distinguishes this program is its remarkably low debt load. At $30,474, students graduate owing significantly less than both the state median ($26,988 adjusted for comparison) and most peer institutions, placing Maria in the 8th percentile nationally for debt. That's a meaningful advantage when you're starting a career at $34,000.

The challenge here is less about debt than about the ceiling. First-year earnings trail programs at CUNY York ($39,837) and lag far behind specialized health programs at schools like Touro or Pace. For parents of students targeting clinical roles with advancement potential, those gaps matter. The small sample size—fewer than 30 graduates—also means these figures could swing considerably year-to-year, so they're less reliable than data from larger programs.

For families prioritizing affordable credentials in health services, Maria offers a pathway that won't bury graduates in debt. But if your child has the grades for a CUNY campus or aims for higher-paying clinical specializations, those alternatives deliver substantially better earnings outcomes. The value here depends entirely on whether this program opens specific doors your student needs—or whether it's simply the most accessible health degree option in the Albany area.