New York, NY · Private University
Is CUNY Hunter College Worth It?
ROI analysis based on real earnings and cost data
Key Numbers
10-Year Earnings
$63,163
median, 10 years after enrollment
In-State Tuition
$7,382
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$15,332
per year
Total 4-Year Cost
$61,328
tuition only (4 years)
ROI Ratio
4.12x
earnings ÷ annual tuition
Payback Period
2.2 yrs
years to recoup total cost
Graduation Rate
61.0%
6-year graduation rate
Median Debt
$11,000
at graduation
Avg Net Price
$2,446
after aid & scholarships
Earnings vs. Annual Cost
10-year median earnings compared to annual tuition
CUNY Hunter College graduates earn $18,163 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 Hunter College ranked by graduate earnings
124 graduates
207 graduates
56 graduates
116 graduates
123 graduates
Earnings shown are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 1-year medians.
ROI by Major at CUNY Hunter 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 Hunter College, the gap between the highest-earning major (Computer Science: $106,141) and the lowest (Music: $29,028) is $77,113/yr — bigger than the difference between many schools.
| Major | Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|
| Computer ScienceBest ROI | $106,141 | 6.9x |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $105,224 | 6.9x |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $81,840 | 5.3x |
| Biology, General | $70,124 | 4.6x |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $66,773 | 4.4x |
| Economics | $64,231 | 4.2x |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $64,149 | 4.2x |
| Public Health | $61,535 | 4.0x |
| Biological and Physical Sciences | $60,863 | 4.0x |
| Political Science and Government | $59,501 | 3.9x |
| Accounting and Related Services | $58,840 | 3.8x |
| Mathematics | $58,538 | 3.8x |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $57,917 | 3.8x |
| History | $53,778 | 3.5x |
| Sociology | $52,572 | 3.4x |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $51,744 | 3.4x |
| Psychology, General | $48,977 | 3.2x |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $46,322 | 3.0x |
| Chemistry | $45,438 | 3.0x |
| English Language and Literature, General | $44,283 | 2.9x |
| Communication and Media Studies | $44,088 | 2.9x |
| Anthropology | $43,909 | 2.9x |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $42,820 | 2.8x |
| Social Work(1yr data) | $42,227 | 2.8x |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $36,514 | 2.4x |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $33,006 | 2.1x |
| Human Biology(1yr data) | $31,891 | 2.1x |
| MusicLowest | $29,028 | 1.9x |
Earnings are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 5-year or 1-year. ROI = earnings ÷ annual tuition.
The Bottom Line
CUNY Hunter College stands out as a strong financial investment among U.S. colleges. Graduates earn $63,163 10 years after starting — $18,163 above the national median of $45,000. The investment pays for itself in roughly 2.2 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.