Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at CUNY Medgar Evers College

Medgar Evers College graduates with liberal arts degrees enter the workforce earning slightly above both the state median ($35,817) and the national median ($36,340), but the standout advantage here is cost. At $13,797 in typical debt—nearly half the state median and barely half the national figure—these graduates face one of the lowest debt burdens in New York for this degree. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.36, most borrowers could reasonably expect to pay off their loans within two years of graduation if they prioritized it. That's a fundamentally different financial position than the typical liberal arts graduate who owes $27,000.

The earnings trajectory is modest but stable, growing from $37,808 to $40,342 over four years. Yes, schools like Molloy or Cornell produce liberal arts graduates earning substantially more, but those programs also typically come with much higher debt loads and more selective admissions. For families looking at CUNY's in-state tuition and a campus serving a majority low-income student population, the relevant comparison isn't Cornell—it's whether this degree provides economic mobility without crushing debt. On that measure, Medgar Evers delivers a practical outcome: graduates earn enough to be self-sufficient while carrying minimal financial burden from their education.