Mathematics at CUNY Lehman College

CUNY Lehman's math degree starts slower than you'd expect—first-year earnings of $41,000 place it in just the 21st percentile nationally—but this program delivers exactly what CUNY excels at: strong upward mobility with minimal debt. By year four, graduates reach nearly $59,000, a 44% jump that ranks them at the median for New York math programs. The $16,872 in typical debt is remarkably low, less than half what most math majors nationally borrow and well below New York's $20,000 median.

The state context matters here: while Cornell math grads start at $87,000, they're not competing for the same opportunities. Lehman serves a predominantly working-class student body (61% receive Pell grants), many of whom work full-time initially before transitioning into better roles. That early earnings gap isn't a failure—it's a reflection of who these students are and the paths they take. What matters is the trajectory, and that 44% growth rate suggests graduates successfully leverage their degrees over time.

For families weighing cost against outcomes, this is one of New York's better value propositions in math. The debt load is manageable even on that modest starting salary, and by year four, graduates are earning what their peers at more expensive programs make. If your child needs to minimize debt while earning a solid STEM credential, Lehman delivers.