Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology at Syracuse University

Something is deeply wrong with Syracuse's biochemistry program outcomes. Graduates earn just $22,693 in their first year—40% below the New York state median and barely half the national average for this degree. Among New York's 62 biochemistry programs, this ranks in the 10th percentile, meaning 90% of comparable programs deliver better results. Meanwhile, students carry $27,000 in debt, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio that would take more than a full year's salary to repay.

The contrast with peer institutions is striking: SUNY Geneseo graduates earn $37,206, while nearby Colgate and Binghamton both exceed $41,000. Even adjusting for Syracuse's higher sticker price, these numbers suggest either that graduates aren't securing science jobs immediately after graduation or that the program isn't preparing them for competitive positions in the field.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) demands caution—perhaps this cohort pursued unusual paths like extended graduate programs or gap years that temporarily suppress earnings. But even allowing for statistical noise, a school charging private university tuition shouldn't produce biochemistry outcomes in the bottom 10% statewide. Unless your child has specific reasons to choose Syracuse (scholarship, unique research opportunity), New York's public universities deliver dramatically better returns in this field.