Computer Science at Stony Brook University

Computer science graduates from comparable New York programs typically earn around $75,000 in their first year—right at the state median—while carrying an estimated $13,500 in debt. That's a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.18, meaning graduates would owe less than two months' salary. For context, the national median debt for CS bachelor's programs is $23,374, so Stony Brook students appear to be borrowing substantially less than peers elsewhere, though this is an estimate based on similar programs at SUNY schools.

The earnings figure tells a more nuanced story. While $75,000 represents solid starting pay for any field, it's roughly half what Cornell CS graduates earn and about a third less than Rochester Institute of Technology. This gap likely reflects employer perceptions and recruiting patterns rather than program quality—Stony Brook's 1410 average SAT and 49% admission rate suggest they're admitting strong students. The high percentage of Pell recipients (38%) may also indicate graduates are choosing jobs prioritizing stability or location over maximum salary.

The estimated debt load makes this program financially viable even if earnings land on the lower end of the spectrum. With such manageable borrowing, graduates have flexibility to pursue different career paths or geographic locations without being locked into the highest-paying offers. That said, families should verify actual outcomes with the school's career services office, particularly for students interested in competitive tech employers where alumni networks and campus recruiting matter significantly.