Physics at College of Staten Island CUNY

A physics bachelor's degree from College of Staten Island suggests first-year earnings around $48,600, based on the median of six similar programs across New York—right in line with both state and national norms for the field. With estimated debt near $19,800, graduates would face a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41, meaning they'd owe less than half their first year's salary. That's a manageable burden compared to the national median debt of $23,300 for physics programs, though the limited sample size means individual outcomes could vary significantly.

The program's affordability looks particularly compelling given that nearly half of CSI students receive Pell grants. While peer CUNY programs like City College report actual outcomes around $48,900, and private competitors like RPI reach $60,300, those comparisons don't tell us how CSI's specific physics graduates fare. What we can say is that New York physics programs cluster fairly tightly in the mid-to-high $40,000s, suggesting CSI likely fits that pattern rather than standing out as an outlier.

The practical takeaway: if your child can graduate with debt in the estimated range, they're looking at reasonable monthly payments relative to typical physics earnings. The uncertainty here isn't whether physics degrees lead to employment—they generally do—but whether CSI's outcomes match these state estimates or fall above or below them.