Computer Science at SUNY Adirondack

An estimated $10,121 in debt for an associate's degree in computer science looks manageable on paper—the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.26 suggests borrowers could pay this off within a reasonable timeframe. But the more revealing number here is the estimated $39,118 first-year salary, which comes from national benchmarks since SUNY Adirondack's graduate cohort was too small to report separately. That figure sits well above what similar programs in New York typically produce: LaGuardia Community College, for instance, reports graduates earning just $24,888, nearly $15,000 less than the national median.

Whether SUNY Adirondack's outcomes track closer to that national figure or the lower New York state average makes all the difference. If graduates land closer to the $39,000 mark, you're looking at a solid return given the modest debt load and the school's accessibility (41% of students receive Pell grants). But if outcomes mirror other New York programs at around $25,000, that same debt becomes tougher to manage on a tighter budget. Given the wide variation in computer science associate's outcomes across New York—from under $25,000 to potentially much higher—the key question is whether this program connects students to jobs that justify even community college costs. Before committing, pin down where recent graduates actually work and what they're earning in their first jobs.