Human Computer Interaction at Stony Brook University

With just two schools in New York offering Human Computer Interaction degrees, Stony Brook stands out primarily for what it doesn't saddle students with: crushing debt. At $20,596, graduates carry roughly $6,500 less debt than the national median for this program, putting it in the 95th percentile for affordability. The first-year salary of $59,722 translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.34—manageable by any standard.

What makes this program particularly appealing is the trajectory. By year four, median earnings jump 37% to $81,573, approaching the national 75th percentile. You're essentially getting competitive outcomes at the state median starting salary, then watching your child's earning power climb substantially. For a public university with a 49% admission rate, that's a solid return on investment.

The caveat is the moderate sample size means some year-to-year variation is possible, but the fundamentals look sound: reasonable debt, competitive starting pay that grows meaningfully, and strong state-level performance. If your child is interested in the intersection of technology and user experience, this program delivers the financial foundation to build on without the debt burden that often accompanies tech degrees.