Est. Earnings (1yr)
$53,317
Est. from NY median (5 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$25,000
Est. from national median (89 programs)

Analysis

For a bachelor's in HR from SUNY Potsdam, the estimated $25,000 in debt appears manageable against what similar programs across New York typically produce—around $53,000 in first-year earnings. That's a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.47, suggesting graduates could reasonably pay down their loans within a few years. The challenge is that these figures are estimates drawn from peer programs rather than actual outcomes from Potsdam itself, so you're working with less certainty than you'd have at schools with larger graduate cohorts.

What's worth noting is how wide the spread runs among New York's HR programs. Cornell tops out at $73,000, while Alfred's technology college sees graduates starting around $34,000. Programs in the middle of this state range—where Potsdam's estimates place it—align closely with the national median of $50,361, meaning you're looking at solid but unremarkable earning potential. For families where 43% of students qualify for Pell grants, the estimated debt level shouldn't feel crushing, but it won't deliver the immediate financial advantage of higher-earning business programs.

The practical takeaway: if your student is committed to HR and Potsdam offers the right campus environment or financial aid package, the estimated numbers suggest a workable investment rather than a risky one. Just recognize you're betting on outcomes from comparable programs holding true here, not on a proven track record specific to this school.

Where SUNY College at Potsdam Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all human resources management and services bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in New York

Human Resources Management and Services bachelors's programs at peer institutions in New York (25 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
SUNY College at PotsdamPotsdam$8,712$53,317*$25,000*
Cornell UniversityIthaca$66,014$73,436*$94,446$15,000*0.20
Roberts Wesleyan UniversityRochester$37,504$66,063*$25,000*0.38
Le Moyne CollegeSyracuse$38,970$53,317*$26,000*0.49
State University of New York at OswegoOswego$8,769$42,900*$47,937$20,777*0.48
SUNY College of Technology at AlfredAlfred$8,862$33,658*$34,145$29,122*0.87
National Median$50,361*$26,625*0.53
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with human resources management and services graduates

Compensation and Benefits Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate compensation and benefits activities of an organization.

$140,360/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Human Resources Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate human resources activities and staff of an organization.

$140,030/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Training and Development Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the training and development activities and staff of an organization.

$127,090/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Labor Relations Specialists

Resolve disputes between workers and managers, negotiate collective bargaining agreements, or coordinate grievance procedures to handle employee complaints.

$93,500/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Law Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in law. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Compliance Officers

Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis activities not classified elsewhere.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Environmental Compliance Inspectors

Inspect and investigate sources of pollution to protect the public and environment and ensure conformance with Federal, State, and local regulations and ordinances.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers

Monitor and evaluate compliance with equal opportunity laws, guidelines, and policies to ensure that employment practices and contracting arrangements give equal opportunity without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Government Property Inspectors and Investigators

Investigate or inspect government property to ensure compliance with contract agreements and government regulations.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Coroners

Direct activities such as autopsies, pathological and toxicological analyses, and inquests relating to the investigation of deaths occurring within a legal jurisdiction to determine cause of death or to fix responsibility for accidental, violent, or unexplained deaths.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Regulatory Affairs Specialists

Coordinate and document internal regulatory processes, such as internal audits, inspections, license renewals, or registrations. May compile and prepare materials for submission to regulatory agencies.

$78,420/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At SUNY College at Potsdam, approximately 43% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 5 similar programs in NY. Actual outcomes may vary.