Home › CUNY City College › Liberal Arts & Humanities

Liberal Arts & Humanities at CUNY City College

New York, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
47 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
47
Optimistic
47
Base Case
50
Pessimistic
Earnings $43,059/yr (16% vs median)
AI Risk Low (0% exposed)
Job Market Medium (13,500 openings/yr)
ROI 17.6x earnings multiple (8.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #22 of 424 Liberal Arts and Sciences programs Top 5%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Liberal Arts & Humanities graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $517K $517K $492K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.6x 17.6x 16.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.4x 8.4x 8.0x
Probability of Field Employment 45% 45% 45%
DegreeOutlook Score 47 47 50

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$29,360
Out-of-state: $61,160 (8.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$13,944
53% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$12,250
3.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$52,617
22% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

CUNY City College's Liberal Arts & Humanities graduates start at $43,059/yr — above the $37,172 national average, though not by a wide margin.

With a 17.6x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 5% spread between best and worst-case AI scenarios signals strong resilience. Most career paths mapped to Liberal Arts & Humanities involve work that current AI cannot replicate.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $12,250 in median debt clears quickly against $43,059 in annual earnings.

CUNY City College ranks #22 among 424 Liberal Arts & Humanities programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.

A 22% earnings increase from $43,059 to $52,617 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

About CUNY City College

CUNY City College's 58% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, enrolling 11,934 students in New York, NY. With 60% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum. After financial aid, the average student pays $13,944 over four years — 53% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at CUNY City College →

Top Career Paths

Postsecondary teachers, all other $78,490/yr
View all 1 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 424 schools offering Liberal Arts & Humanities →

Liberal Arts & Humanities at Other Schools

Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($103,135) DePaul University ($84,066) Molloy College ($74,868) Bentley University ($72,333) Champlain College ($71,207) Georgetown University ($66,719) Thomas More University ($62,607) Drexel University ($62,470)

Other Majors at CUNY City College

Computer Science ($83,258) Computer Engineering ($78,326) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($78,172) Chemical Engineering ($67,450) Civil Engineering ($67,194) Mechanical Engineering ($65,905) Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering ($62,945) Biomedical/Medical Engineering ($56,711)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Liberal Arts & Humanities trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 47/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Liberal Arts & Humanities at CUNY City College?
At 47/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Liberal Arts & Humanities programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.
Is CUNY City College one of the best schools for Liberal Arts & Humanities?
Among 424 Liberal Arts & Humanities programs, CUNY City College's #22 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.
What do students actually pay for Liberal Arts & Humanities at CUNY City College?
The 53% gap between sticker price and net cost means most students pay far less than $29,360. At a net cost of $13,944, the earnings multiple improves substantially.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →