Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods at College of Staten Island CUNY

College of Staten Island delivers something rare in teacher education: genuinely affordable preparation with solid earning potential. That $11,854 median debt puts this program in the top 5% nationally for low debt burden—less than half what New York education graduates typically carry and less than one-fifth the national median. While the initial $42,000 salary is modest, it jumps 46% to over $61,000 within four years, tracking New York's public school salary schedules. Among 58 New York teacher education programs, this ranks 60th percentile—solidly middle-of-the-pack for the state.

The real story here is value for working-class families. With half the students receiving Pell grants, this CUNY college serves students who can't afford to graduate with crushing debt. That 0.28 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates can manage their loans on a first-year teaching salary, which isn't guaranteed at pricier programs.

Fair warning: the sample size is under 30 graduates, so individual outcomes may vary more than these numbers suggest. But for a family looking at in-state options for teacher certification, the combination of CUNY tuition, strong earnings growth, and New York City teaching opportunities makes this a practical choice that won't derail their child's financial future.