Computer and Information Sciences at CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College

Borough of Manhattan Community College's Computer Science associate degree starts rough but tells a recovery story. That $26,582 first-year salary ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally—troublingly low for a tech credential. Yet four years out, graduates reach $45,835, a 72% jump that outpaces most programs. The catch: that early earning period matters enormously when you're trying to pay rent in Manhattan and service debt.

Within New York, this program sits at the 40th percentile, trailing community colleges like Nassau ($39,199 first-year earnings) and Erie ($35,253) by significant margins. The $9,500 debt load is manageable compared to many four-year programs, but it's still above New York's state median for associate CS degrees. With 57% of students on Pell grants, many graduates here can't afford to wait years for their earnings to catch up.

The fundamental question: can your child handle two to three years of below-market tech wages in one of America's most expensive cities? If they're living at home or have financial support during that runway period, the strong mid-career trajectory makes this viable. If they need to be self-supporting immediately after graduation, this program's delayed payoff creates real hardship. Consider whether transferring those credits to complete a bachelor's—or starting at a higher-paying NY community college—makes more financial sense.