Analysis
Similar computer science programs in New York suggest starting salaries around $75,000, which would position SUNY Oswego near the middle of the state's CS programs—well behind elite schools like Cornell or RPI, but still delivering earnings that track with the statewide median. With an estimated $13,500 in debt, this would represent one of the lighter debt loads among New York's CS programs, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio that's quite manageable at 0.18.
The caveat matters here: we're working with state-level estimates because Oswego's CS graduate cohorts are too small to report publicly. This could mean the program is still growing, or simply that the school doesn't graduate many CS majors. Either way, you're betting on a program without a track record visible in the federal data. The 80% admission rate and lower average SAT scores suggest this isn't competing with the tech powerhouses upstate, but that doesn't necessarily undermine the degree's value—employers care more about skills than prestige in CS.
The practical question is whether you're comfortable with that uncertainty. If the estimates hold, you're looking at a solid value proposition with low debt for a field that pays well. But without actual graduate outcomes to verify, you're trusting that Oswego's program performs like its peers across the state—and that's an assumption worth testing through conversations with current students and recent graduates before committing.
Where State University of New York at Oswego Stands
Earnings vs. debt across all computer science bachelors's programs nationally
Compare to Similar Programs in New York
Computer Science bachelors's programs at peer institutions in New York (46 total in state)
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| School | In-State Tuition | Earnings (1yr)* | Earnings (4yr) | Median Debt* | Debt/Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $8,769 | $74,515* | — | $13,500* | — | |
| $66,014 | $152,656* | $185,679 | $14,698* | 0.10 | |
| $69,045 | $118,636* | $160,457 | $20,397* | 0.17 | |
| $61,884 | $104,943* | $129,412 | $23,250* | 0.22 | |
| $64,348 | $99,878* | $136,559 | $19,000* | 0.19 | |
| $57,016 | $94,611* | $125,429 | $27,000* | 0.29 | |
| National Median | — | $70,950* | — | $23,374* | 0.33 |
Career Paths
Occupations commonly associated with computer science graduates
Computer and Information Systems Managers
Computer and Information Research Scientists
Software Developers
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
Information Security Analysts
Database Architects
Data Warehousing Specialists
Data Scientists
Business Intelligence Analysts
Clinical Data Managers
Computer Programmers
Web Developers
About This Data
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)
Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At State University of New York at Oswego, approximately 39% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.
Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.
Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.
Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 20 similar programs in NY. Actual outcomes may vary.