Human Resources Management and Services at SUNY College of Technology at Alfred

This program's graduates earn substantially less than what HR graduates typically make—not just nationally, but especially within New York state. At $33,658 one year out, these earnings fall in the 10th percentile among New York HR programs, trailing the state median of $53,317 by nearly $20,000. Even SUNY Oswego, another public institution, produces graduates earning $42,900. Four years later, Alfred's HR graduates see virtually no earnings growth, stuck around $34,000 while their debt burden exceeds $29,000. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.87 means graduates owe nearly a full year's salary—manageable only if earnings accelerate significantly, which this data doesn't show happening.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift with more data, but the gap is too large to dismiss. When you're paying similar amounts for your degree as students at higher-performing SUNY schools but earning $8,000-10,000 less annually, the math doesn't add up. For an HR career, other New York public options would deliver better returns. If Alfred is the only viable choice geographically, students should plan for tight finances in their early career years and consider whether the specific campus experience justifies accepting significantly below-market earnings in a field where compensation is typically more consistent across schools.