Homeland Security at University at Albany

University at Albany's Homeland Security program sits squarely in the middle of New York's offerings—ranking at the 40th percentile statewide—but lags significantly behind national standards. First-year graduates earn $38,472, roughly $10,000 below the national median and $5,000 below the state median. To put this in perspective, Utica University's graduates in the same field earn nearly 50% more, while SUNY Canton graduates earn about $10,000 more annually.

The debt load of $23,250 is actually reasonable, creating a manageable 0.60 debt-to-earnings ratio that falls right in line with national norms for the program. The problem isn't borrowing too much—it's earning too little. With over 100 graduates in the data set, these figures are reliable, not statistical noise. UAlbany serves a diverse student body (42% receive Pell grants), which makes the accessibility valuable, but the earnings gap remains concerning.

For families considering this program, the question becomes whether the lower earnings justify choosing UAlbany over stronger performers in New York. The debt is manageable, but starting nearly $20,000 behind graduates from Utica or $10,000 behind those from SUNY Canton compounds significantly over a career. Unless UAlbany offers specific geographic proximity or networking advantages for your child's career goals, this program appears to underdeliver compared to readily available alternatives within the same state system.