Accounting at CUNY LaGuardia Community College

LaGuardia's accounting graduates face a stark trade-off: exceptionally low debt but the weakest starting salaries among New York accounting programs. That first-year median of $20,436 ranks in just the 10th percentile statewide—roughly $13,000 below the state median and nearly half what graduates earn at comparable programs like Niagara County or Finger Lakes. The $6,553 debt load is genuinely impressive, sitting well below both state and national averages, but it's solving for the wrong problem when earnings are this constrained.

The dramatic earnings jump to $42,402 by year four suggests graduates eventually find their footing, likely after completing bachelor's degrees or gaining professional certifications. That 108% growth rate is remarkable and ultimately pushes four-year earnings above the national median. However, parents should recognize this means subsidizing 3-4 years of sub-living-wage income in expensive New York City while their child builds credentials—a reality reflected in the 40% Pell Grant rate here.

For families who can provide financial support during those early years and see this as a stepping stone toward further education, the minimal debt makes LaGuardia a defensible choice. But if your child needs to be financially independent quickly, the entry-level salary gap compared to other New York community colleges creates real hardship that even low debt can't offset.