Computer Science at CUNY LaGuardia Community College

LaGuardia's associate degree in Computer Science shows a stark divide between immediate and long-term outcomes. Fresh graduates earn just $24,888—landing this program in the 20th percentile nationally—but four years out, earnings jump 85% to $46,054. That's above the national median for associate CS programs and exactly at the New York state median, suggesting graduates who stick with tech careers can catch up. The relatively low debt load of $8,750 means even that rough first year is manageable, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.35.

Here's the critical context: New York's associate CS programs show unusually low first-year earnings across the board, so this isn't unique to LaGuardia. You're essentially at the state median for this credential. The real question is whether your child will be working in tech immediately after graduation or needs time to build experience—many community college CS graduates work outside their field initially before transitioning into better-paying tech roles, which this earnings trajectory suggests.

With a small sample size (under 30 graduates), treat these numbers as directional rather than definitive. But the combination of minimal debt and strong four-year earnings makes this a relatively low-risk pathway into tech, especially for the 40% of students here on Pell grants who need an affordable entry point to the industry.