Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences at State University of New York at Plattsburgh

Similar geosciences programs across New York suggest first-year earnings around $37,800, which actually aligns with both the state and national medians for this major. That's a reasonable starting point for earth sciences graduates, though noticeably below what peers at SUNY New Paltz or Buffalo are seeing. The estimated $23,800 in debt—based on comparable SUNY programs—keeps the debt-to-earnings ratio at 0.63, a manageable level that suggests monthly loan payments would consume about 6-7% of pre-tax income.

The challenge here is the lack of program-specific data, which means we're working from what similar NY geosciences programs produce rather than Plattsburgh's actual track record. With 41 earth science programs in New York alone, outcomes can vary significantly based on curriculum focus, internship networks, and alumni connections. SUNY Geneseo's graduates, for instance, start at $27,000—over $10,000 less than the state median—while New Paltz consistently produces stronger results.

For parents, this means accepting more uncertainty than usual. The debt load appears typical for a SUNY program, and the earnings projections match what you'd expect for the field. But without knowing where Plattsburgh's graduates actually land—whether they're tracking closer to New Paltz's stronger outcomes or Geneseo's weaker ones—you're making a bet on a program whose performance remains hidden in the data gaps.