Social Work at SUNY at Fredonia

Starting at under $29,000 means SUNY Fredonia's social work graduates face immediate financial strain—that first-year salary falls well below both New York's $38,126 median and the national benchmark. While earnings jump 52% by year four to reach $43,679, that trajectory tells only part of the story. The program ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally and 25th percentile among New York schools, placing it behind not only CUNY campuses (where graduates earn $42,000-$45,000) but most alternatives statewide.

The debt load of $24,340 appears manageable on paper, but paired with those first-year earnings, it creates a debt-to-income ratio of 0.85—meaning graduates owe nearly a full year's salary right out of college. For a field already known for modest pay, that's a tough starting position, especially when SUNY Fredonia's outcomes lag significantly behind other affordable New York public options.

Important caveat: this analysis reflects fewer than 30 graduates, so individual experiences may vary considerably. However, if your child is committed to social work, investigating why nearby CUNY programs produce consistently stronger earnings—or considering graduate school pathways that might open better-compensated roles—would be prudent before committing to this particular bachelor's program.