Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at Upstate Medical University

Upstate Medical's nursing program produces graduates earning $77,319 in their first year—solid numbers by national standards, but notably below what's typical for New York nursing graduates. The state's median for this program sits at $89,296, putting Upstate in the 40th percentile among New York nursing schools. That's a significant gap of roughly $12,000 annually compared to the state median, and even wider when you consider that several CUNY and SUNY programs place graduates earning well into six figures.

The debt picture offers some relief: at $24,064, graduates carry about $3,000 less than typical nursing students, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.31. However, the small sample size here (fewer than 30 graduates tracked) means these figures could shift considerably with more data. The 10% earnings growth from year one to year four suggests steady career progression, though starting from a lower baseline than many New York nursing programs offer.

For families considering New York nursing schools, this program's value depends heavily on net cost. If Upstate offers significantly lower tuition than the higher-earning CUNY or SUNY options, the math could work. But given that New York's nursing market clearly supports higher salaries—as evidenced by multiple programs placing graduates above $110,000—families should compare total costs carefully against programs with stronger earning outcomes.