New York City higher education and youth employment trends

Data indicates a decline in educational and employment stability for young residents in New York City. Graduation rates at the City University of New York (CUNY) have fallen over a five-year period, with associate degree rates dropping from 38.9% in 2022 to 35.5% in 2026, and four-year undergraduate rates decreasing from 62% to 55.6%.

CUNY officials attributed these declines to changes in freshman class composition and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, while former trustee Jeffrey Wiesenfeld cited a ‘two-pronged problem’ involving declining public school standards and relaxed academic requirements.

Compounding these educational trends, unemployment among New York City residents aged 22 to 27 with college degrees reached 7.3% in March 2026, surpassing the 7.1% unemployment rate for peers without degrees. Comptroller Mark Levine noted that unemployment for college-educated youth has risen steadily since spring 2024, suggesting that artificial intelligence may be disrupting white-collar industries.