Social Sciences at CUNY Graduate School and University Center

The numbers here look remarkable—$54,265 in first-year earnings with just $12,500 in debt—but the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these figures could shift dramatically with more data. That said, if these results hold, this program significantly outperforms both the New York state median ($35,772) and the national median ($36,279) for social sciences degrees, ranking in the 95th percentile on both scales. The debt load is less than half the state median and roughly half the national figure.

The context matters here: CUNY's Graduate School and University Center serves a substantial population of Pell grant recipients (38%), yet these graduates are achieving earnings that exceed even elite competitors like NYU and Columbia in this field. The 0.23 debt-to-earnings ratio is exceptionally favorable, meaning graduates could theoretically pay off their debt in just three months of earnings.

The caveat is real—with so few graduates, these numbers might reflect a particularly successful cohort rather than a predictable pattern. However, the combination of low debt, strong placement in New York's competitive job market, and accessible admissions (39% acceptance rate) suggests genuine value if you're comfortable with the uncertainty. For families seeking an affordable path to a social sciences degree with strong New York connections, this warrants serious consideration despite the limited track record.