Construction Engineering Technologies at CUNY New York City College of Technology

CUNY NYC College of Technology delivers something increasingly rare: a bachelor's degree in construction engineering with remarkably low debt. At just $10,900, graduating students carry less than half the state median ($14,200) and barely a quarter of the national figure ($24,744). With starting salaries around $67,500, that's a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.16—meaning graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in under two months of gross earnings.

The earnings picture requires some context. While first-year pay trails the national median by about $5,000, this program sits solidly in the middle of New York's small cohort of construction engineering programs (40th percentile). By year four, salaries reach nearly $78,000, showing 15% growth that suggests stable career progression. Given that 55% of students receive Pell grants, these outcomes represent genuine economic mobility for working-class New Yorkers entering a sector with steady demand.

The fundamental math here is compelling: low debt plus solid mid-$60K starting salaries in one of America's most expensive housing markets. Students aren't getting elite earnings, but they're getting a clear path to middle-class income without the debt burden that could derail homeownership or other financial goals. For families weighing CUNY's affordability against potentially higher-earning programs elsewhere, the minimal debt load might matter more than an extra few thousand in starting salary—especially in New York City's cost structure.