Mathematics at CUNY City College

Based on comparable mathematics programs across New York, City College graduates can expect to start around $45,880—typical for the state but trailing the national median by about $3,000. The estimated $19,450 in debt produces a manageable 0.42 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates would owe less than half their first-year salary. For a CUNY education serving predominantly lower-income students (60% receive Pell grants), this represents solid value, though the earnings gap with elite New York programs is stark: Cornell and RPI mathematics graduates earn nearly double in their first year.

The challenge is that these figures come from peer programs statewide, not City College's actual outcomes, which the Department of Education couldn't report due to small graduate samples. Mathematics programs vary enormously—some lead directly to finance or tech jobs paying $70,000+, while others produce high school teachers or students bound for graduate school. Without knowing where City College's specific graduates land, you're making an investment based on the average New York experience rather than this school's track record.

For families watching every dollar, the low debt burden matters more than the earnings uncertainty. If your child plans to work in New York City where living costs are high, press the department for career placement specifics—particularly whether graduates are landing quantitative analyst roles or teaching positions, as that distinction drives the wide earnings range you see across state programs.