Economics at College of Staten Island CUNY

College of Staten Island delivers on one crucial promise: debt you can actually handle. At $16,520, graduates carry 28% less debt than the typical New York economics student and 38% less than the national median—critical for a school where nearly half of students receive Pell grants. With first-year earnings of $43,227, that debt represents just 38% of first-year income, meaning most graduates could realistically pay it off within a few years.

The earnings picture requires more nuance. Starting salaries land in the 40th percentile among New York economics programs—below the state median but well ahead of the bottom tier. This matters in a state where elite programs like Columbia and Cornell push median earnings above $80,000. You're not getting Ivy-adjacent outcomes, but at $48,617 by year four, graduates earn enough to build financial stability without the crushing debt that often accompanies higher-earning programs. The 13% earnings growth is steady, if unspectacular.

For families weighing CUNY's rock-bottom tuition against higher-earning alternatives, the calculation comes down to opportunity cost. The $30,000+ earnings gap compared to top New York programs is real, but so is graduating with minimal debt from a system designed for economic mobility. If your child needs to work while studying or can't relocate, this program offers a manageable path to a middle-class income without betting the family's financial future on student loans.