Zoology/Animal Biology at State University of New York at Oswego

SUNY Oswego's zoology program produces starting salaries around $28,000—essentially matching national averages for the field—but carries roughly $25,000 in debt. The key distinction here is geographic: while this lands near the middle nationally (46th percentile), it performs notably better among New York programs specifically, ranking in the 60th percentile statewide. With only five schools offering zoology in New York, Oswego holds its own as a mid-tier option that won't saddle graduates with excessive debt for this notoriously modest-paying field.

The earnings trajectory shows encouraging growth—a 22% jump to $34,000 by year four—though even that figure remains modest by any standard. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.88 means graduates owe less than one year's starting salary, which is manageable if not impressive. For a field where many graduates pursue additional education or accept lower-paying conservation and research positions early in their careers, keeping debt under control matters more than maximizing initial earnings.

The bottom line: if your child is committed to working with animals and wants to stay in New York, Oswego offers a financially reasonable path into the field. The program won't deliver financial windfalls, but it also won't create the debt burdens that can make low-paying passion careers genuinely unsustainable. Just understand that zoology itself—not this particular program—is the limiting factor on earnings potential.