Natural Resources Conservation and Research at SUNY College at Potsdam

The small sample size here demands caution, but the pattern is concerning enough to warrant attention: SUNY Potsdam graduates in this program start at $27,586—well below both the state median ($31,223) and national median ($33,988), landing in just the 15th percentile nationally. While earnings jump 52% by year four to nearly $42,000, that initial struggle year matters enormously for someone carrying $26,000 in debt. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.94 means your child would owe nearly a full year's salary right out of the gate, making those first years financially precarious.

What's particularly striking is that New York offers significantly stronger options for this field. Top state programs place graduates earning $42,000-$44,000 in their first year—essentially matching where Potsdam grads land after four years of career building. Even the state median starts $3,600 higher. Since SUNY schools typically attract in-state students seeking affordable education, it's worth noting that this particular program doesn't deliver the competitive positioning you'd hope for within New York's job market.

The eventual earnings recovery is genuine, but your child would spend their early career catching up to where peers from stronger programs already started. If natural resources conservation is the passion, either look at SUNY's environmental programs at other campuses with stronger placement, or consider whether the four-year trajectory to $42,000 justifies the initial financial strain.