Berkeley College-New York
New York, New York · Private For-Profit
ROI Score: 16/100 · Poor Value
Berkeley College-New York scores 16 out of 100 on CampusROI and lands in the Poor Value tier, with a profile typical of urban for-profit institutions. The most striking financial fact is the inverted price structure: published tuition is $29,800 but the average net price is $34,124, meaning students pay more than sticker after aid is applied (typically because of mandatory fees and limited institutional discounting). Total four-year cost is approximately $136,496, one of the highest figures in the small-private cohort. Median earnings at six years are $33,700 and rise modestly to $45,884 by year ten. Median debt of $30,426 produces a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.903 and a modeled payback period of 25.4 years. Repayment progress is the worst sub-score: only 40% of borrowers are making progress at year three and 45% at year seven, indicating roughly half the borrower base is stuck. Combined with a 44.0% completion rate, the profile points to a school where the typical borrower carries substantial debt and struggles to service it for a decade or more.
The data raises concerns about Berkeley College-New York
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score16/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Payback period25.4 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
Berkeley College-New York
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $29,800/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $29,800/yr |
| Average net price | $34,124/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $136,496 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $45,884 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $33,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $30,426 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $323 |
| Estimated payback period | 25.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 44.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,449 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Berkeley College-New York is $29,800/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $34,124/year, or roughly $136,496 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $33,638/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $38,592/year.
The median graduate leaves with $30,426 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $323 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $45,884 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.90 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $33,638 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $33,341 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $33,533 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $38,839 |
| $110,001+ | $38,592 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 face a net price of $33,638 per year, which is essentially identical to the institutional average. This indicates almost no need-based discount despite high Pell eligibility. Four years totals about $134,500 against $45,884 in ten-year median earnings, which is unworkable for nearly any borrower. CUNY tuition for in-state Pell-eligible students is essentially free; the gap is roughly $130,000 over four years.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income brackets are essentially flat: $33,341 ($30,001-$48,000), $33,533 ($48,001-$75,000), then a step up to $38,839 ($75,001-$110,000). The lack of bracket differentiation confirms that Berkeley's pricing is largely flat-sticker rather than need-based. Middle-income New York families have far stronger options at CUNY senior colleges or at the SUNY system.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Households above $110,000 pay $38,592 a year, or roughly $154,400 over four years. This is the highest-priced bracket and produces an unambiguous loss versus alternatives like NYU Tandon for STEM, Hunter or Baruch for non-STEM, or out-of-state SUNY at significantly lower cost. Full-pay families should not enroll on financial grounds.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Berkeley College-New York with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $56,827 | D |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $59,400 | D |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $52,658 | F |
| Legal Professions and Studies, Other | $60,338 | F |
| Marketing | $54,505 | F |
| Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations | $51,653 | F |
| Accounting | $61,960 | D |
| International Business | $51,777 | F |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration | $54,250 | C |
| Finance and Financial Management | $48,510 | - |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is the largest program with 78 graduates. First-year earnings of $39,925 rise to $56,827 by year four, but median program debt of $38,926 produces a 0.975 debt-to-earnings ratio and a D ROI grade. The four-year earnings figure is respectable for NYC but the debt is heavy enough that graduates need most of a decade to clear it. Students should pressure-test the four-year earnings figure against their realistic role expectations in NYC business operations.
Health and Medical Administrative Services
Health administration graduates 53 students with $49,284 in first-year earnings rising to $59,400 by year four against an unusually high $47,366 in median debt. The 0.961 debt-to-earnings ratio earns a D ROI grade. NYC's healthcare administration job market is large enough to absorb these graduates, but the debt load relative to earnings is structurally heavy and graduates spend roughly a decade catching up.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice graduates 51 students with $35,355 in first-year earnings rising to $52,658 by year four against $37,263 in median debt. The 1.054 debt-to-earnings ratio earns an F ROI grade. Within NYC, John Jay College of Criminal Justice at CUNY offers the same credential at materially lower cost and with stronger NYPD and federal placement pipelines; that should be the first comparison for any prospective applicant.
Legal Professions and Studies, Other
Legal Studies (paralegal track) graduates 30 students with $36,131 in first-year earnings rising to $60,338 by year four against $42,249 in median debt. The 1.169 debt-to-earnings ratio earns an F ROI grade. NYC paralegal salaries are real but the debt load makes Berkeley's path financially indefensible compared to CUNY's New York City College of Technology paralegal certificate or BMCC programs.
Accounting
Accounting graduates 13 students with $50,399 in first-year earnings rising to $61,960 by year four against $39,258 in median debt. The 0.779 debt-to-earnings ratio earns a D ROI grade. Accounting is one of the better-defensible majors on campus financially, but Baruch College at CUNY trains the largest pipeline of NYC accountants at a fraction of the cost; Berkeley should be a last-resort alternative.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 33.2% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 40.5% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 37.8% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 45.2% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Enrollment | 1,449 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 52.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,929 |
Admission rate is not reported in current Scorecard data for Berkeley College-New York. The school operates with broadly accessible admissions oriented toward working adults and career-changers in the New York metro. SAT and ACT data are not reported. The absence of standardized admissions metrics means applicants have no academic benchmark for self-assessment; the binding filter is financial commitment rather than academic preparation.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Peers in the CampusROI dataset include Five Towns College, LIM College, Berkeley College-Woodland Park, Strayer University-Virginia, and Strayer University-Tennessee. Within this for-profit and niche-private cohort, Berkeley College-New York is at the lower end of the ROI band, materially behind LIM College which serves the fashion industry with stronger earnings outcomes. The Berkeley College-Woodland Park sister campus posts a similar profile. The Strayer locations track at comparable financial-outcomes weakness but with different completion patterns.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berkeley College-New York (this school) | 16 | $34,124 | $45,884 |
| LIM College | 43 | $38,667 | $58,956 |
| Five Towns College | 17 | $22,992 | $35,887 |
| Berkeley College-Woodland Park | 16 | $27,100 | $40,251 |
| Strayer University-Virginia | 11 | $19,578 | $40,092 |
| Strayer University-Tennessee | 11 | $11,645 | $40,092 |
Who Thrives Here
With 1,449 students and a Pell rate of 52.3%, Berkeley College-New York serves a high-need, mostly New York metro population, with many students working full or part time. The student for whom this works is one whose employer is paying tuition through a partnership benefit (eliminating out-of-pocket cost), or a working adult who specifically needs the night/online schedule and cannot access CUNY's evening programs. Pell-eligible students paying out of pocket should look hard at CUNY (Baruch, City College, John Jay) before borrowing here, where net prices are a fraction of Berkeley's.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Berkeley College-New York. With a net cost of $34,124 per year and median graduate earnings of only $45,884 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 25.4 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 44.0% graduation rate and high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $30,426 against $45,884 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.