Accounting at College of Staten Island CUNY

College of Staten Island's accounting program starts graduates at concerning salaries—just $41,416 in the first year, placing them in the 5th percentile nationally and barely the 25th percentile among New York schools. That's roughly $10,000 below the state median and $12,000 below the national average. For context, top NY accounting programs like Fordham and Syracuse launch graduates at $75,000+. However, the story improves dramatically: by year four, earnings jump to $58,166, representing 40% growth that narrows the gap considerably.

The saving grace here is debt. At $16,232, graduates carry about $9,000 less than typical accounting majors nationwide. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.39, most graduates should manage repayment despite the slow start. Nearly half the student body receives Pell grants, suggesting this program serves students who might otherwise struggle to access accounting careers at all—and the low debt burden matters enormously for that population.

The tradeoff is clear: you're accepting significantly lower starting earnings in exchange for CUNY's affordability and the program's strong earnings trajectory. If your child can weather the lean early years—living at home, perhaps—this becomes a viable path into accounting. But families expecting immediate post-graduation financial independence should look elsewhere or plan for substantial parental support initially.