Physics at CUNY City College

CUNY City College's physics graduates earn $48,908 in their first year, landing above the national median and competitive with Rochester Institute of Technology—an impressive showing for a program that costs far less. While the debt figure here is estimated from similar New York programs at around $19,842, that would translate to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41, meaning graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in about five months of gross salary.

The real story is value. City College serves a population where 60% receive Pell grants, yet its physics graduates out-earn those from NYU by nearly double and match outcomes at much pricier private alternatives. Though we're working with estimated debt rather than program-specific figures, comparable physics programs in New York suggest borrowing stays manageable, especially when paired with earnings that track slightly above the state median. The combination of access, affordability, and competitive outcomes makes this particularly noteworthy in New York's expensive higher education landscape.

For a physics degree that delivers middle-of-the-pack national earnings with likely below-average debt, City College presents a practical investment—especially for families where cost matters most. The lack of reported debt data means we can't confirm the exact financial picture, but peer programs and strong earnings suggest solid fundamentals for students willing to work through a rigorous STEM program.