Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics at CUNY York College

CUNY York College's Romance Languages program produces first-year earnings of $46,882—significantly higher than both the national median ($34,497) and the state median ($37,442) for this field. That's a standout outcome for a program serving a largely low-income student population (43% receive Pell grants) at a modestly selective public college. While the debt figure is estimated from comparable programs in New York, the state median of $19,212 is notably lower than the national median of $22,722, suggesting CUNY's affordability model is working.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41 means graduates are borrowing less than half their first-year salary—a manageable burden that puts this program in solid financial territory. York College grads are earning more than those from elite institutions like Hamilton College and nearly matching Fordham's outcomes, despite the dramatic difference in institutional resources and selectivity. The actual earnings advantage over peer programs—$9,440 above the state median—makes a real difference in quality of life for recent graduates.

The caveat is that we don't know York's actual debt burden, only what similar programs in New York typically produce. But even if individual graduates borrowed somewhat more than the state median, the strong earnings would still support reasonable repayment. For a family considering an affordable CUNY option, this program's performance suggests it delivers exceptional value in a field that often struggles with post-graduation earnings.