Finance and Financial Management Services at CUNY Queens College

A bachelor's in finance that places graduates nearly $10,000 below the national median—and trails most comparable New York programs—raises legitimate questions about competitive positioning. Queens College finance majors start at $45,168, which lands them in the 13th percentile nationally but exactly in the middle among New York programs. That split tells you something: this isn't about the school underperforming so much as New York's finance landscape being dominated by programs feeding into high-paying Wall Street positions that Queens grads may not be accessing at the same rate.

The estimated debt of $19,424 from peer programs keeps the risk manageable, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43 that's well below concerning thresholds. Earnings do climb to nearly $62,000 by year four, representing solid 37% growth. But here's the practical reality: even with that growth, graduates remain substantially behind competitors like Fordham ($84K) or even SUNY Binghamton ($74K). For a field where your first employer and entry-level position often shape your entire career trajectory, starting $20-30K behind peers from other New York programs could compound over time.

The value case here depends entirely on cost and debt load. If your child can graduate with actual debt near or below that $19,424 estimate, they'll have breathing room to build their career without financial strain. But if they're considering comparable debt at a pricier private program in New York, those schools' substantially higher earnings might justify the investment. Queens works as an affordable entry point to finance—just understand it may require more hustle to reach the same career outcomes as higher-earning programs.