Economics at State University of New York at New Paltz

With estimated debt around $20,000—lower than what peer economics programs typically see in New York—SUNY New Paltz presents a relatively affordable path into the field. The challenge lies in the earnings: first-year graduates earn about $47,000, which falls below both the state median ($50,000) and national median ($52,000) for economics degrees. This isn't catastrophic, but it means New Paltz graduates are starting behind peers from other programs, including those at nearby SUNY schools. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42 is manageable, suggesting graduates could reasonably pay off loans within a few years.

The real question is whether that earnings gap closes over time or persists. Economics degrees typically gain value as graduates move into finance, consulting, or analytics roles that require experience. If your child is targeting competitive fields in New York City—where the top programs in this data pull $80,000-plus starting salaries—they'll face tougher competition from Barnard, Cornell, and Columbia graduates. However, if they're building toward graduate school or planning to leverage the SUNY system's alumni network in state government or regional businesses, the lower debt load becomes a significant advantage. The modest borrowing gives them flexibility, but they should expect to work harder early on to catch up earnings-wise.