Information Science/Studies at SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill

Starting at $43,246 means SUNY Cobleskill's Information Science graduates earn roughly $15,000 less than the New York state median and land in the bottom 5% nationally for this degree. That's a significant gap in a field where many programs deliver strong early returns—Syracuse and Stony Brook graduates in the same state start around $70,000, while even SUNY Old Westbury breaks $56,000.

The good news is the debt load remains manageable at under $23,000, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.53 that keeps monthly payments reasonable even with these lower salaries. Earnings do grow 15% to nearly $50,000 by year four, showing some career progression. For a school serving 43% Pell-eligible students with an accessible admissions profile, this program provides an entry point to IT careers without crushing debt.

However, parents should recognize this program doesn't compete with stronger New York options. If your child can gain admission to a SUNY flagship or similar institution for Information Science, the earnings premium would be substantial—potentially $20,000+ more annually from day one. This makes sense as a local, affordable option if other doors aren't open, but the career trajectory starts from a notably lower baseline than what this degree typically delivers.