Computer and Information Sciences at SUNY College of Technology at Canton

First-year earnings of $46,378 place this program well below what computer science graduates typically earn in New York, where the median sits at $62,592, and even further behind the national median of $61,322. That's a significant gap—about $16,000 less than peer programs in the state—and in a field where strong starting salaries are often the primary draw. While the estimated debt load of $23,386 (based on comparable programs at similar New York institutions) keeps the debt-to-earnings ratio manageable at 0.50, the earnings shortfall means graduates are starting their careers at a real disadvantage in a competitive tech market.

The program serves a largely open-access population (96% admission rate, 47% receiving Pell grants), which matters for context, but it doesn't change the math: graduates from top New York programs like Cornell or Stony Brook earn more than double what Canton grads make, and even mid-tier state schools produce significantly stronger outcomes. For a field where location, alumni networks, and program reputation drive salary negotiations, this earnings gap compounds over time.

For parents weighing this investment: if your student has admission options at SUNY schools with stronger tech placement records, those are worth serious consideration. If Canton is the accessible choice that makes college possible, understand that career success will likely depend heavily on internships, personal projects, and possibly graduate education to close the earnings gap.