Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at CUNY Lehman College

A bachelor's in Liberal Arts from Lehman College means borrowing an estimated $24,917 to reach first-year earnings around $35,800, based on comparable programs across New York. That debt load—roughly 70% of first-year income—sits below the typical threshold where repayment becomes genuinely difficult, though it's not exactly comfortable either. The more pressing concern is what happens after that first year. Similar liberal arts programs in New York show wide variation in outcomes, from $35,000 at the median to over $70,000 at schools like Molloy, suggesting this degree's value depends heavily on how graduates leverage it—whether for graduate school, specific career pivots, or simply as a credential for advancement.

With 61% of Lehman students on Pell grants, many families here can't afford prolonged job searches or career experimentation. The estimated earnings place this program right at the state and national median for liberal arts degrees, meaning it's neither notably strong nor weak by standard measures. But at a CUNY price point, it's delivering comparable outcomes to programs that might cost twice as much elsewhere. The real question is whether your child has a plan beyond the degree itself—grad school applications, a specific industry target, or connections that will make this generalist credential work for them. Without that plan, $25,000 in debt for $36,000 in earnings leaves little room for mistakes.