Computer Science at CUNY Queens College

Queens College delivers one of the best financial outcomes in CUNY—and perhaps the country—for computer science students. With just $13,500 in median debt (less than half the national average), graduates start at $64k and quickly climb to $98k within four years. That's a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.21, meaning graduates earn back their entire debt load in under three months of work. Among the 739 computer science programs nationwide, Queens ranks in the 95th percentile for affordability.

The trajectory here matters more than the starting point. Yes, Queens graduates earn less initially than those from Cornell ($153k) or Columbia ($119k), and the program sits around the 40th percentile among New York's 46 computer science programs. But that 53% earnings jump from year one to year four suggests graduates are landing in legitimate tech roles with real growth potential—at a fraction of the cost. For context, CUNY's in-state tuition runs about $7,000 annually, making the $13,500 median debt figure reflect smart borrowing.

For families weighing value, this is straightforward: Queens offers a legitimate computer science education at an accessible institution (69% admission rate, nearly half the students on Pell grants) that won't burden graduates with debt. Your child may not start at Google-level compensation, but they'll enter the workforce debt-light and free to take career risks their peers from more expensive programs cannot afford.