Chemical Engineering at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

Based on comparable chemical engineering programs in New York, this degree appears to deliver solid value—the estimated $72,866 first-year salary aligns closely with both state and national medians, while the projected $23,161 debt load sits comfortably below the 0.5 threshold that would signal financial stress. For context, chemical engineering programs across New York range from around $73,000 at Manhattan University to $85,000 at Cornell, suggesting ESF graduates would likely enter the workforce earning what most of their state peers do, despite the school's more specialized environmental focus.

The debt-to-earnings picture looks manageable. Similar programs at ESF's peer institutions suggest graduates would owe roughly four months of their first-year salary—a reasonable burden for an engineering credential that typically opens doors to stable, well-compensated careers. The school's 83% admission rate and relatively low Pell grant percentage (26%) indicate it's accessible without being unselective, though the small graduate cohort that triggered data suppression means you're working with less certainty than you'd have at larger programs.

For parents evaluating this investment, the fundamentals appear sound: engineering degrees generally justify their cost, and ESF's niche in environmental applications could differentiate graduates in a growing field. Just recognize you're relying on state averages rather than track record data specific to this campus—which matters less for a standardized field like chemical engineering than it might for other majors.