Computer Science at CUNY City College

CUNY City College's computer science program delivers elite-level outcomes at a fraction of the cost of New York's prestigious private universities. With first-year earnings of $83,258 and just $8,623 in median debt, graduates achieve a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.10—among the best in the nation for any bachelor's degree. This translates to roughly one month of salary to pay off student loans, compared to the national CS program average where debt equals four months of earnings.

The program punches well above its weight nationally, placing in the 77th percentile for earnings despite a 58% admission rate and serving a predominantly working-class student body (60% receive Pell grants). Within New York, it lands solidly at the 60th percentile—behind the Ivy League giants like Cornell and Columbia, but remarkably close to Rochester Institute of Technology's outcomes while costing students dramatically less. When you consider that RIT graduates leave with comparable earnings but typically much higher debt loads, City College's value proposition sharpens considerably.

For families worried about tech sector volatility, the steady earnings growth to $85,603 by year four suggests stable career trajectories. Your child won't match Cornell's $152,656 starting salary, but they'll enter the workforce with negligible debt and strong earning power in one of the nation's most expensive—and opportunity-rich—tech markets. This is as close to a no-brainer investment as you'll find in computer science.