Human Development, Family Studies, at St. Joseph's University-New York

A $21,796 starting salary puts this program in the bottom 10% of New York's Human Development programs—compare that to SUNY Plattsburgh grads earning $35,025 or the state median of $36,178. With just $27,000 in debt, the borrowing itself is reasonable, but earning 40% less than peers at other New York schools creates a serious repayment challenge. The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could fluctuate significantly, but even accounting for statistical noise, this is a troubling gap.

Brooklyn's high cost of living makes this particularly difficult. At under $22,000 annually, graduates would struggle to afford rent in most New York City neighborhoods while managing student loan payments. The program serves a moderate number of Pell grant recipients (34%), suggesting many students come from families without safety nets to fall back on during lean early career years.

Before committing, demand transparency from St. Joseph's about career outcomes and placement support. The small cohort size might indicate limited program resources or declining enrollment—both potential red flags. Unless your family can afford to subsidize living expenses for several years post-graduation, or your child has concrete connections to better-paying opportunities in social services or education, the public SUNY options deliver dramatically better financial outcomes for roughly half the first-year earnings disadvantage.