Hospitality Administration/Management at State University of New York at Plattsburgh

SUNY Plattsburgh's hospitality program launches graduates into better-than-average starting positions—$39,099 is notably above both the national median ($34,675) and New York's median ($31,629) for hospitality programs. However, earnings drop to $33,807 by year four, a 13% decline that deserves attention. This pattern suggests graduates may be securing solid entry-level positions in New York's tourism and hospitality sector, but facing challenges advancing or retaining those initial compensation levels.

The debt picture is reasonable at $21,500, creating a manageable 0.55 debt-to-earnings ratio that most graduates should be able to handle. Among New York's 18 hospitality programs, this ranks solidly in the 60th percentile—respectable, though well behind Cornell's luxury hospitality outcomes ($77,803) and even NYU's stronger trajectory. The program does outperform the Culinary Institute of America by year one, which may surprise some parents.

For families considering this program, the key question is whether the strong start justifies accepting potential earnings stagnation. If your child plans to leverage that first year to build experience and pivot toward management roles, the foundation could prove valuable. But if you're expecting steady career progression within traditional hospitality roles, the declining earnings trend suggests this field may have structural limitations that even above-average programs can't fully overcome.