Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at College of Staten Island CUNY

College of Staten Island CUNY nursing graduates earn $110,335 right out of school—nearly $50,000 above the national median for nursing programs and $21,000 above New York's already-strong state median. With just $17,125 in debt (well below half the typical nursing graduate's burden), you're looking at a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.16, meaning graduates could theoretically pay off their loans with six weeks of salary. Among New York's 61 nursing programs, this ranks solidly in the 60th percentile, trailing only elite programs like Helene Fuld and a handful of other CUNY campuses.

The earnings dip to $103,603 by year four deserves context: new nurses in New York often command premium pay for overnight shifts and overtime that naturally decreases as they gain seniority and move to standard schedules. That first-year figure reflects the reality of hospital nursing—it's hard work with premium compensation. What matters more is that even the lower four-year figure still exceeds New York's median by $14,000.

For families concerned about nursing school affordability—and with 49% of students receiving Pell grants, many here are—this program delivers top-tier New York nursing outcomes at CUNY's accessible price point. The combination of minimal debt and exceptional starting earnings makes this one of the state's best nursing values.