Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at CUNY City College

CUNY City College delivers something rare in liberal arts education: strong outcomes without the debt burden. At $12,985 in median debt—less than half the national average for this degree—graduates earn $43,059 in their first year, placing this program in the 81st percentile nationally. That's $7,000 above what typical liberal arts graduates earn, with dramatically less financial risk.

The New York comparison reveals nuance. While City College ranks at the 60th percentile statewide—trailing Cornell and Union—the programs ahead carry vastly different price tags and serve different student populations. With 60% of students on Pell grants, City College is helping first-generation and lower-income students access outcomes that would cost far more elsewhere. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.30 means graduates carry less than four months' salary in loans, giving them flexibility that wealthier peers at private schools often lack.

The modest 7% earnings growth to $46,094 by year four suggests this degree opens doors to stable rather than high-trajectory careers. But paired with minimal debt, that stability has real value. For New York families seeking an affordable liberal arts education with proven job market results, this represents one of the state's better pathways—especially when the alternative might be $50,000+ in loans at a private institution.