Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at CUNY Queensborough Community College

Queensborough Community College's nursing program delivers on New York's promise of strong nursing wages while keeping debt substantially below state norms. Though first-year earnings are estimated from similar programs across New York (the school's graduate cohort was too small for the DOE to publish specific figures), the reported four-year earnings of $99,093 suggest this program delivers competitive outcomes—approaching what elite NYC programs produce, but at a fraction of the cost. At $17,675 in debt versus the state median of nearly $25,000, Queensborough offers a notably more affordable path into a high-earning field.

The estimated debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.24 means graduates would owe roughly three months' salary—manageable territory for a profession with clear advancement potential. That 45% of students receive Pell grants suggests this program serves as genuine economic mobility engine, not just a credential mill. While some specialized nursing schools in the city show slightly higher starting salaries, the difference narrows by year four, and none offer Queensborough's value proposition.

The caveat here is that first-year earnings are extrapolated from peer programs, not this school's actual graduates. But the reported four-year data provides the anchor: if graduates are earning $99,000 within four years while carrying under $18,000 in debt, this represents one of the stronger community college investments available, particularly for students who need to work while studying and want to stay in New York's robust healthcare market.