Communication Disorders Sciences and Services at CUNY Queens College

CUNY Queens College's Communication Disorders program costs just $8,500 in median debt—among the lowest in the nation for this field—while delivering earnings that nearly triple between years one and four. That 162% growth rate is the real story here: initial earnings of $23,108 lag slightly behind New York's median, but by year four, graduates reach $60,508, more than double the state average and far exceeding what peers at other CUNY schools earn.

The debt picture deserves emphasis. At $8,500, Queens College graduates carry roughly one-third the debt of typical communication disorders students nationally ($22,362) and in New York ($24,815). This creates an unusually favorable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.37, meaning debt represents just over four months of first-year earnings. Even during that challenging first year, the financial burden remains manageable.

The caveat? That first year appears to reflect students working in entry-level positions before entering graduate school—standard for this field, where most careers require a master's degree. The fourth-year jump suggests many graduates complete additional training and move into speech-language pathology or audiology roles. For families planning on graduate school anyway, Queens College delivers the undergraduate foundation at minimal cost, positioning students to invest in advanced degrees without dragging along significant bachelor's debt. That's a strategic advantage worth roughly $16,000 compared to the state average.