Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $109,601/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$75,601/yr |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $12,500 |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Master | $113,744 | $26,425 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $95,348 | $12,500 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions. | Doctoral | $80,907 | |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Bachelor | $74,576 | $22,869 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions. | Master | $69,757 | $66,000 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services. | Master | $69,338 | |
| Medicine. | Doctoral | $64,962 | $196,615 |
| Public Health. | Master | $56,641 | $28,187 |
Analysis
SUNY Downstate posts a strong financial return, and the math behind it is simple: high earnings paired with very low debt. A $109,601 median salary against $12,500 in median debt is one of the healthiest ratios you will find at any public school, and it comes from Downstate's focus on health sciences careers that pay well in the New York City market.
Nursing is the clear winner here. Your bachelor's in registered nursing earns about $95,348 while carrying the same $12,500 debt load as the school overall, so you graduate into a Brooklyn and NYC hospital market that hires aggressively and pays for it. Allied health diagnostic and treatment programs are the weaker bet: you earn roughly $20,000 less per year than nursing grads while borrowing nearly $23,000, almost double the debt. Same school, very different payoff.
The main risk is narrowness. Downstate is a health sciences institution, so if you are not committed to a clinical or allied health path, this is not the place to explore. There is no bachelor-level data here outside nursing and allied health, which tells you how specialized the program mix is. Pick the wrong track within it and your debt-to-earnings math flips fast, as the allied health numbers show.
This school fits you if you want a nursing or clinical career and plan to work in the New York metro area, where the earnings figures actually hold up. Look elsewhere if you want a broad undergraduate education or a non-health major.
On net price: the low overall debt suggests you can leave here without a heavy loan burden across income levels, and the salary outcomes give you a realistic path to pay off what you do borrow within a few years, especially on the nursing track.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University worth the cost?
With median debt of just $12,500 and 10-year earnings of $109,601, SUNY Downstate offers strong ROI for health sciences students. The low debt burden makes this a financially sound choice compared to private health science programs.
What programs at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University have the best job prospects?
Nursing programs lead with graduates earning $95,348-$113,744 after 10 years. Rehabilitation and therapeutic professions pay $69,757-$80,907, while allied health diagnostics averages $74,576.
How much debt do SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University graduates typically have?
The median debt is $12,500, which is unusually low for health sciences education. This makes SUNY Downstate one of the more affordable paths to healthcare careers in the New York area.
Does SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University provide good financial aid?
The low median debt suggests decent financial aid or affordable tuition, though specific aid amounts vary by program and student need. As a SUNY school, in-state students get significantly lower tuition rates.