Social Work at CUNY Lehman College

CUNY Lehman College delivers exceptional value for aspiring social workers, combining strong earnings with remarkably low debt. At $42,300 in first-year earnings—placing graduates in the 91st percentile nationally—students here earn substantially more than the typical social work graduate while graduating with half the debt ($12,690 versus $26,362 nationally). That 0.30 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates can manage their loans on less than four months of income, providing immediate financial breathing room in a field not known for high pay.

The numbers tell an even better story than they first appear. Earnings grow 20% to nearly $51,000 by year four, suggesting graduates are advancing into supervisory or specialized roles. While Lehman ranks at the 60th percentile among New York programs—trailing York and Medgar Evers by a few thousand dollars—this still places it solidly in the upper half of state programs and well above both state and national medians. Given that 61% of students receive Pell grants, these outcomes represent genuine upward mobility for first-generation and lower-income students who might otherwise struggle to access professional careers.

For families worried about the financial return on a social work degree, Lehman offers a clear path forward: strong entry-level placement, meaningful career progression, and manageable debt that won't derail other life goals. This is exactly what you want to see from an urban public university serving its community.