General Sales, Merchandising at CUNY Graduate School and University Center

The economics of this program are harder to pin down than most, since both the earnings and debt figures here are national estimates rather than actual outcomes from this specific institution. Based on comparable bachelor's programs nationally, sales and merchandising graduates typically start around $53,400—roughly $10,000 above what similar programs report in New York state. Whether CUNY's program performs closer to the national average or the lower state median is the critical unknown here.

The estimated debt load of $23,500 sits slightly below the national median for these programs, producing a manageable 0.44 debt-to-earnings ratio if the salary estimate holds. For context, actual outcomes at the two New York schools with reportable data show first-year earnings in the low $40,000s—which would push that ratio higher and make the debt picture less comfortable. The program serves a substantial population of Pell-eligible students (38%), so understanding the true financial outcomes matters significantly for families without financial cushion.

Given the data limitations, parents should dig deeper: request placement rates and actual salary data from the program itself, and talk to recent graduates if possible. The estimated numbers suggest reasonable value, but you're essentially betting that this program outperforms the New York state median by 20%—a gap worth verifying before committing.