Strong graduate outcomes with earnings well above peer institutions.
What graduates earn 10 years after enrollment.
Annual salary at 10 years
Lower quartile earnings
Upper quartile earnings
How graduate earnings grow in the decade after enrollment.
CUNY Graduate School graduates experience a distinctive earnings trajectory that reflects the specialized nature of graduate programs and professional training. Earnings begin at $68,616 six years after enrollment, peak at $68,817 at eight years, then settle at $65,991 at ten years, representing a slight 3.8% decline from the six-year mark.
How outcomes compare to similar institutions.
Strong relative performance — graduates earn notably more than peers at comparable institutions.
Financial justification for the investment.
Excellent affordability. Median debt of $12,584 is well under annual earnings, enabling comfortable repayment.
CUNY Graduate School graduates carry exceptionally low median debt of $12,584, significantly below the peer median of $21,105. Debt levels range from $3,210 at the 25th percentile to $12,577 at the 75th percentile, indicating that most students graduate with manageable borrowing levels.
CUNY Graduate School ranks at the 88.9th percentile for return on investment, delivering well above average performance through the combination of strong earnings outcomes and exceptionally low debt levels. Graduates earn $19,438 beyond expectations compared to similar students nationally, placing the institution at the 94.0th percentile for excellent earnings performance.
Approximately 35.5% of CUNY Graduate School graduates continue to graduate or professional school, though this estimate carries low confidence due to ...
Program mix explains much of the earnings story.
Adult Health Nurse/Nursing drives CUNY Graduate School's strongest financial outcomes, with 170 graduates earning median salaries of $102,980 and achieving an exceptional value score of 97.1. Information Science/Studies produces 41 graduates with median earnings of $73,937, while Business/Commerce graduates 74 students earning $63,624.
Clinical Research Coordinator provides another healthcare pathway with 52 graduates earning $48,432, and Communication and Media Studies graduates 34 students earning $47,260. Psychology graduates the most students outside of nursing with 58 graduates earning $41,272.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
Earnings outcomes at CUNY Graduate School show substantial variation that creates diverse mobility pathways for graduates. The spread from $41,234 at the 25th percentile to $108,769 at the 75th percentile represents a 2.6:1 ratio, indicating significant upside potential based on program choice and career direction.
