Computer Systems Analysis at State University of New York at Plattsburgh

With first-year earnings around $52,500 and estimated debt of roughly $24,600, this program's financial profile looks manageable on paper. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47 suggests graduates could reasonably pay off loans within a few years, and the debt load sits well below both the national and state median of $46,000 for computer systems analysis degrees. That lower debt burden matters, even if we're drawing these figures from comparable programs rather than SUNY Plattsburgh's actual graduate outcomes.

The challenge is context: New York has only two schools reporting data for this specific bachelor's program, making it hard to know where Plattsburgh truly stands among in-state competitors. The estimated earnings align with what DeVry College of New York reports and match the national median, which suggests neither a premium nor a penalty for this credential. For a field where technical skills and certifications often matter as much as the degree itself, that's a neutral starting point.

The practical advantage here is the debt picture. If your child can graduate with around $25,000 in loans rather than $46,000, that's $20,000 less to repay on similar starting salaries. But remember these are estimates based on peer programs—the actual outcomes depend heavily on factors like internship quality, specific technical skills acquired, and whether graduates land in New York's competitive tech market or elsewhere. Ask the school about job placement rates and which employers recruit on campus.