Computer and Information Sciences at SUNY Oneonta

SUNY Oneonta's computer science program starts graduates at $54,111—about $8,500 below the New York state median and nearly $7,000 below the national average. In a field where new graduates typically command strong salaries, landing below the 40th percentile statewide is noteworthy. The debt load of $23,188 is manageable, translating to roughly $250 monthly in loan payments, but the below-market starting salary means less breathing room in those early career years when tech professionals at stronger programs are building savings and equity.

The real concern here isn't necessarily the numbers themselves—the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43 is reasonable—but the competitive positioning. New York's tech market offers plenty of opportunities, yet Oneonta graduates are earning 40% less than peers from Stony Brook or RPI. Whether that reflects the curriculum, career services, employer recruitment patterns, or something else is worth investigating directly with the department.

One important caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so these figures could swing significantly year to year. Still, if your child is set on computer science and plans to stay in New York, compare job placement statistics across SUNY schools. The $8,500 annual earnings gap compounds quickly—that's $42,500 over five years before even accounting for raises and promotions that build on higher starting salaries.