Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering at CUNY City College

City College delivers engineering credentials at a price point that's hard to beat anywhere in New York. With just $13,563 in median debt—roughly half the state average for this program—graduates enter one of the highest-paying technical fields without the financial burden that typically comes with it. First-year earnings of $78,172 land solidly in the middle of the pack nationally, but the exceptional value becomes clear when you consider that Cornell graduates start at $100,000 while carrying dramatically more debt.

The tradeoff? Earnings growth stalls after graduation, ticking up only 4% over four years while peers at other institutions see steeper trajectories. At 60th percentile among New York engineering programs, City College graduates earn respectably but not exceptionally. For context, this is a school where 60% of students receive Pell grants, and the program is clearly optimizing for accessibility over prestige outcomes. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.17 means graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in roughly two months of gross salary.

For families prioritizing financial safety and a clear path to stable middle-class earnings, this program works. Your child gets a legitimate engineering degree, immediate access to $78,000+ jobs, and minimal debt exposure. If maximizing long-term earning potential is the primary goal, the top-tier New York programs show measurably better outcomes—but they come at a cost that makes City College's proposition look increasingly smart for budget-conscious families.