Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians at CUNY Queensborough Community College

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.32 looks manageable on paper, but the uncertainty here runs deep. Both the earnings figure of $48,312 and the debt estimate of $15,387 come from national peer programs—there's no actual data from Queensborough's mechanical engineering technology graduates to confirm these numbers hold true in the New York City market. The four-year earnings of $43,823, which is reported, actually falls below the first-year estimate, suggesting either measurement issues or that this program's trajectory doesn't match the typical pattern.

For a field like mechanical engineering technology, location matters enormously. New York City's higher cost of living should theoretically drive wages up, but it also means that $48,000 stretches far less than it would elsewhere. With 25 programs offering this degree in New York and no reported outcomes data from any of them, parents are flying blind on how these credentials actually perform in the state's job market. The national benchmarks might reflect programs in lower-cost regions with different industrial bases.

Given that nearly half of students here receive Pell grants, affordability is critical. The estimated debt load is modest, which provides some cushion, but without knowing whether Queensborough's graduates actually achieve those national earnings figures—or whether New York employers value this particular credential—you're essentially betting that this program matches the national average rather than underperforms it.