Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management at CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice

John Jay's IT program starts below both national and state medians at $49,580, but graduates experience solid 32% earnings growth to reach $65,483 by year four—surpassing even Rochester Institute of Technology's early graduates and landing well above the national median. That trajectory matters more than the slower start, especially given the program's exceptional debt profile.

At just $13,875 in median debt (95th percentile nationally—meaning only 5% of similar programs have lower debt), students here graduate with roughly half the state median and barely a quarter of the typical national burden for this degree. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.28 means graduates can realistically pay off loans within a year or two of graduation. This is particularly relevant for John Jay's student body, where 59% receive Pell grants and likely need to minimize financial risk.

The trade-off is straightforward: students accept lower starting salaries in exchange for minimal debt and strong upward mobility. Within New York's IT program landscape, this ranks solidly at the 60th percentile for earnings while offering by far the best debt position. For families prioritizing affordability and long-term growth over immediate earnings—especially those who can't afford the debt loads at higher-starting programs—this represents a financially sound path into technology careers.