Information Science/Studies at Pace University

Pace's Information Science program sits in an awkward middle ground: first-year earnings of $52,116 land above the state median but well below what top New York programs produce. While Excelsior and Syracuse graduates earn $70,000-plus out of the gate, Pace graduates face a tougher starting position, earning roughly 30% less than their peers at SUNY institutions like Stony Brook. The estimated $27,000 debt burden—derived from comparable programs at similar institutions—translates to a manageable 0.51 debt-to-earnings ratio, but that advantage matters less when your earnings baseline is lower to begin with.

New York's information science landscape is bifurcated: public universities dominate the top earnings slots, while private options like Pace struggle to deliver comparable returns despite higher sticker prices. The national picture isn't any better—Pace's graduates earn about $6,500 less than the typical information science bachelor's holder nationwide. For a field where technical skills and connections matter enormously, that gap suggests either weaker curriculum rigor or less robust employer networks compared to competitors.

If your child has SUNY options, particularly Stony Brook or Old Westbury, the numbers favor those paths. Pace might make sense if location in Manhattan provides networking advantages specific to your family situation, but understand you're likely paying more for demonstrably less earning power in a field where starting salary often determines long-term trajectory.