Information Science/Studies at CUNY Graduate School and University Center

CUNY Graduate School's Information Science program punches well above its weight, with graduates earning nearly $74,000 their first year out—44% more than the typical Information Science graduate in New York and $15,000 above the national median. Among 34 New York programs, only Excelsior and Syracuse place graduates at higher starting salaries, yet CUNY charges a fraction of what private competitors like Syracuse cost. This performance is particularly impressive given that 38% of students receive Pell grants, suggesting the program creates genuine upward mobility.

The debt picture reinforces the value proposition. At roughly $25,000, graduates owe less than one-third of their first-year salary—a manageable burden that most financial advisors would consider safe. While debt levels sit slightly above New York's median for this field, the strong earnings more than compensate. A graduate here is taking on comparable debt to peers at SUNY Old Westbury but earning $17,000 more annually.

For families evaluating Information Science programs in New York, this represents one of the strongest returns available. The combination of top-tier outcomes and CUNY's relatively affordable tuition makes this program a clear winner, especially for students who need to borrow. The moderate sample size suggests results are reasonably reliable, though not based on decades of data.