Biology at CUNY Lehman College

CUNY Lehman's Biology graduates face a challenging reality: they earn roughly $34,000 in their first year while carrying $16,500 in debt—a manageable debt load that still translates to nearly half a year's salary. While the earnings land right around the middle of the pack both nationally and within New York (59th and 60th percentiles respectively), that's cold comfort when top-tier New York programs like Barnard produce graduates earning $47,000—40% more than Lehman. This gap matters because even small differences compound significantly over a career, and biology bachelor's degrees rarely lead to high-paying positions without additional education.

The one genuine advantage here is the debt picture. At $16,500, Lehman students graduate owing $8,500 less than the typical New York biology major. For a college serving predominantly working-class students (61% receive Pell grants), this lower debt burden is meaningful and reflects CUNY's accessible mission. The 0.49 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests graduates can realistically manage their loans, even if they're not thriving financially.

For families considering this program, understand what you're getting: an affordable path to a biology degree that likely serves as a stepping stone to graduate school, not a career endpoint. If your child plans to pursue medical school, research positions, or advanced degrees where the bachelor's is just the foundation, Lehman's low-debt approach makes sense. If they're hoping to stop at a bachelor's and immediately earn a comfortable living, biology—at Lehman or anywhere—poses challenges.