Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas at College of Staten Island CUNY

A $41,942 starting salary lands College of Staten Island's teacher education program near the middle of the state pack—60th percentile among New York programs—but the real story is what this means in a high-cost-of-living area. Peer programs at CSI's sister CUNY campuses report significantly stronger outcomes: Queens College grads earn $58,894 in their first year, while Hunter and City Tech both report around $49,000. That $7,000-16,000 gap matters enormously when you're trying to live in the New York metro area on a teacher's salary.

The estimated $24,373 debt burden from similar NY programs yields a manageable 0.58 debt-to-earnings ratio, and with nearly half of students receiving Pell grants, CSI serves a population for whom affordable teacher preparation is critical. The problem isn't affordability—it's whether this particular campus position graduates as competitively for teaching jobs. The earnings gap suggests either different subject area focus, geographic hiring patterns, or credential timing issues compared to stronger-performing CUNY campuses.

For families committed to teaching, investigate why this campus underperforms other CUNY options by $8,000-17,000 annually. If Staten Island's location is essential, the debt load won't crush you. But if your student can commute to Queens, Hunter, or City Tech instead, those programs show materially better earnings outcomes that compound significantly over a teaching career.