Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology at Stony Brook University

Stony Brook's biochemistry program starts graduates at just $29,649—roughly $7,000 below New York's median for this degree and in the bottom quartile nationally. That's a challenging launch even for a field known for requiring graduate education, and it raises questions about whether graduates are finding relevant positions or falling back on low-wage work while planning their next steps.

The debt picture offers some relief: at $18,968, it's about $4,000 below both state and national medians, meaning graduates aren't overleveraged. The impressive 50% earnings jump to $44,369 by year four suggests many eventually land in roles that better match their credentials—perhaps as research technicians, lab managers, or quality control specialists. However, this still lags behind SUNY peers like Binghamton ($41,305 starting) and Geneseo ($37,206 starting) who begin at higher baselines.

For families evaluating this SUNY option, the core question is whether your student plans to immediately enter the workforce or pursue graduate school. If they're headed to medical school, a PhD program, or professional training anyway, the low initial earnings matter less and the below-average debt becomes an advantage. But if they're banking on bachelor's-level employment to pay bills and build savings, stronger-starting alternatives exist within the SUNY system—and the data suggests many Stony Brook graduates spend those early years figuring out their next move rather than establishing lucrative careers.