Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College

CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College turns out RNs earning over $86,000 just one year after graduation—substantially above the national median of $68,400 and ranking in the 95th percentile nationwide. With debt under $16,000, graduates face one of the lowest debt-to-earnings ratios you'll encounter in nursing education (0.19 means roughly two months of salary covers the entire loan). Over half of students receive Pell grants, suggesting this program successfully launches economically diverse students into well-paying careers.

The New York context reveals an interesting nuance: while these earnings crush national benchmarks, they sit at the 60th percentile among New York nursing programs, where several schools place graduates above $95,000. That's less about Borough of Manhattan underperforming and more about New York's exceptional nursing market—$73,000 is the *median* first-year salary statewide. Still, debt here is $9,000 below the state median, which matters when multiple programs deliver similar earning potential.

For families weighing community college versus private nursing schools, this program makes a compelling financial case. Your child graduates with manageable debt, strong immediate earnings, and room for growth (salaries increase 9% by year four). The handful of higher-earning programs in New York may not justify their additional cost when Borough of Manhattan already delivers six-figure earning potential within four years of graduation.