Criminology at CUNY Graduate School and University Center

A $35,000 starting salary—what comparable New York criminology programs suggest graduates here might earn—creates tight finances when paired with nearly $20,000 in estimated debt. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.55 looks manageable on paper, but in New York City where rent alone can consume half a paycheck, first-year earnings below the state median deserve careful scrutiny.

The broader picture offers some reassurance: criminology programs across New York cluster tightly between $35,000 and $38,000 in early earnings, suggesting this field simply doesn't command high starting salaries regardless of institution. The estimated debt here actually runs lower than both state and national medians for criminology degrees, which matters when you're building a career in criminal justice, social services, or law enforcement—fields known more for mission than money.

The Graduate Center's selective 39% admission rate and substantial Pell population suggest an academically serious environment serving working-class students, but without actual outcome data for this specific program, you're making decisions in the dark. Before committing, find out where this program's graduates actually work and what they earn—because if the reality diverges from these state-wide estimates, you need to know which direction it goes.