Business, Management, Marketing, at SUNY at Fredonia

With estimated first-year earnings around $41,000 and debt near $25,000, this business degree aligns closely with what other New York business programs typically produce—a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59 that should be manageable on a standard repayment plan. However, these figures lag the national median of $51,000 for business bachelor's degrees, suggesting graduates might find stronger initial earning power elsewhere.

The gap matters practically: that $9,000 difference compared to the national median adds up to roughly $45,000 over five years, enough to significantly affect early career financial stability. Similar New York programs show considerable variation—SUNY Maritime's business graduates start around $45,000, while Alfred's begin closer to $39,000—so location and program focus within the state clearly influence outcomes. For a school with a 79% admission rate serving a substantial population of Pell Grant recipients, these estimated returns position Fredonia's business program as accessible but not particularly distinguished in earning power.

The practical question is whether staying in-state at Fredonia makes sense when peer programs suggest similar debt but potentially lower earnings than alternatives. If your student has strong reasons to attend—campus fit, specific faculty, lower living costs in western New York—the debt load won't be crushing. But if maximizing early career earnings is the priority, programs with actual reported data showing higher returns deserve serious consideration, particularly those closer to the national median.