Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences at SUNY College at Potsdam

SUNY Potsdam's health sciences program starts graduates at just $29,455—roughly $6,000 below New York's median for similar programs and landing in the 19th percentile nationally. While the debt load of $27,000 is manageable on paper, that sub-$30,000 starting salary creates real cash flow challenges in the first years after graduation. The program does rank at the 40th percentile within New York, suggesting it's not an outlier in the state, but that also means half of New York's health sciences programs deliver better initial outcomes.

The 29% earnings growth to nearly $38,000 by year four shows meaningful trajectory, though graduates still trail peers from schools like CUNY York College or Stony Brook, where starting salaries already exceed Potsdam's four-year mark. The significant caveat here is the small sample size—with fewer than 30 graduates in the dataset, a handful of individuals heavily influence these numbers, meaning your child's experience could differ substantially.

For families considering this program, the key question is career path specificity. If this degree leads to a defined allied health role with clear advancement, the early struggle may be temporary. But given the stronger alternatives within SUNY and CUNY systems at similar or lower costs, you'll want compelling reasons—location, specific program features, financial aid—to choose Potsdam over higher-earning options.