Visual and Performing Arts, General at Queensborough Community College-CUNY
NY · Associate's Degree · CIP 50.01
Executive Summary
Graduates with a Visual and Performing Arts, General degree from Queensborough Community College-CUNY earn a median salary of $40,342 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in NY, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $30,562. The degree typically pays for itself in 21.4 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$28,969
Typical Career
$40,342
Top Performers
$55,047
Estimated break-even: 21.4 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$269
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $3,362. Most students can comfortably afford about a $269 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.0x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.5x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in New York buys what costs $1.32 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Educational Services, Finance & Insurance.
Where Associate's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$30,562
Nominal: $40,342 in New York (COL 132.0% of national avg) · 24.2% lower purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $19,449 | $26,459 | $36,855 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $28,969 | $40,342 | $55,047 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $35,686 | $51,223 | $74,545 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $40,342 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in NY, which has a cost-of-living index of 132.0% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $40,342 × (1.0 ÷ 1.3200)
= $30,562 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The primary industries for graduates include Health Care & Social Assistance, which accounts for 28.3% of employment, followed closely by another segment in the same field at 27.2%, and Educational Services at 9.3%. Given the estimated break-even point of approximately 21.4 years compared to a high-school-only path, the return on investment may be considered moderate. Students should weigh these factors against their career aspirations and the financial implications of pursuing a degree in this field.
Compare with Another School
See how the Visual and Performing Arts, General degree at Queensborough Community College-CUNY stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
Ready to apply?
Start your application for Visual and Performing Arts, General at Queensborough Community College-CUNY.
Explore More
Other Degrees at Queensborough Community College-CUNY
Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.