Health Professions at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.67 suggests this bachelor's program could be manageable, though with an important caveat: both the $37,158 earnings figure and $24,990 debt estimate come from peer programs rather than SUNY Downstate's actual graduates. The earnings estimate aligns with New York's state median for health professions bachelor's degrees, placing it in the middle of the pack—well below Excelsior's $52,631 but ahead of several other programs. At this debt level, monthly loan payments would run around $280, consuming roughly 9% of gross income if earnings match the state pattern.

The real uncertainty here is what "Health Professions" means at SUNY Downstate specifically. Among New York programs in this category, outcomes vary by more than $20,000, suggesting the label encompasses everything from clinical laboratory science to health information management to pre-professional tracks. Given that SUNY Downstate is a specialized health sciences university, the program likely prepares students for allied health roles—but without knowing which specific career path, it's difficult to assess whether these estimated figures would hold true.

For parents, the key question is whether this program leads to licensure or certification in a specific healthcare field. If it does, research typical salaries for that role in New York and compare them to these estimates. If the program is more exploratory or pre-professional, understand that graduate school may be necessary to reach stable career earnings, fundamentally changing the financial calculation.