New York, NY · Private University
Is CUNY City College Worth It?
ROI analysis based on real earnings and cost data
Key Numbers
10-Year Earnings
$66,039
median, 10 years after enrollment
In-State Tuition
$7,340
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$15,290
per year
Total 4-Year Cost
$61,160
tuition only (4 years)
ROI Ratio
4.32x
earnings ÷ annual tuition
Payback Period
2 yrs
years to recoup total cost
Graduation Rate
54.7%
6-year graduation rate
Median Debt
$11,990
at graduation
Avg Net Price
$3,486
after aid & scholarships
Earnings vs. Annual Cost
10-year median earnings compared to annual tuition
CUNY City College graduates earn $21,039 more than the national median of workers with any education level.
What You'd Actually Pay
Average net price after grants and scholarships, by family income
Source: IPEDS net price data. Actual costs vary based on individual financial circumstances.
Highest-Earning Majors
Top programs at CUNY City College ranked by graduate earnings
58 graduates
116 graduates
176 graduates
90 graduates
86 graduates
Earnings shown are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 1-year medians.
ROI by Major at CUNY City College
All available majors ranked by graduate earnings. Your major matters as much as your school.
Your major matters more than your school
At CUNY City College, the gap between the highest-earning major (Computer Engineering: $93,873) and the lowest (Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft: $27,329) is $66,544/yr, bigger than the difference between many schools.
| Major | Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|
| Computer EngineeringBest ROI | $93,873 | 6.1x |
| Computer Science | $85,603 | 5.6x |
| Mechanical Engineering | $84,427 | 5.5x |
| Civil Engineering | $81,836 | 5.3x |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $81,425 | 5.3x |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | $70,568 | 4.6x |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $67,733 | 4.4x |
| Biology, General | $66,075 | 4.3x |
| Applied Mathematics | $63,533 | 4.2x |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $59,863 | 3.9x |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $55,262 | 3.6x |
| Chemical Engineering | $54,776 | 3.6x |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $54,230 | 3.5x |
| Political Science and Government | $53,184 | 3.5x |
| Communication and Media Studies | $52,691 | 3.5x |
| Economics | $50,594 | 3.3x |
| Physics(1yr data) | $48,908 | 3.2x |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $48,531 | 3.2x |
| Psychology, General | $48,043 | 3.1x |
| Sociology | $47,607 | 3.1x |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $46,094 | 3.0x |
| History | $46,015 | 3.0x |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $44,363 | 2.9x |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology(1yr data) | $44,175 | 2.9x |
| English Language and Literature, General | $40,931 | 2.7x |
| Music | $40,856 | 2.7x |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $40,554 | 2.6x |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $38,137 | 2.5x |
| Philosophy(1yr data) | $33,339 | 2.2x |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftLowest | $27,329 | 1.8x |
Earnings are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 5-year or 1-year. ROI = earnings ÷ annual tuition.
How It Compares
ROI at similar schools
| School | ROI Ratio | Earnings | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| CUNY City College | 4.32x | $66,039 | Strong ROI |
| CUNY Hunter College | 4.12x | $63,163 | Strong ROI |
| CUNY Brooklyn College | 3.94x | $60,752 | Strong ROI |
| University of Massachusetts-Amherst | 1.82x | $71,631 | Good ROI |
| State University of New York at New Paltz | 3.15x | $58,073 | Strong ROI |
| CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | 4.93x | $75,971 | Strong ROI |
The Bottom Line
CUNY City College stands out as a strong financial investment among U.S. colleges. Graduates earn $66,039 10 years after starting, $21,039 above the national median of $45,000. The investment pays for itself in roughly 2 years, faster than most colleges.
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Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Tuition data from IPEDS. ROI calculations are for informational purposes only and reflect median outcomes.