College of Staten Island CUNY
Staten Island, New York · Public · 92.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 67/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
College of Staten Island CUNY scores 67 (Fair Value) - a split verdict driven by a high earnings premium score (97) but a critically low completion rate (33.9%) and poor repayment rate (60.4%). At $5,579 net price and $7,490 in-state tuition, the cost structure is genuinely affordable; the problem is that fewer than 1 in 3 students who enroll earns a degree. Average 6-year earnings of $33,900 are modest, but the 8.8-year payback period reflects the low sticker price more than strong earnings. Registered Nursing is the clear top program: 30 graduates, $110,335 year-one earnings, $17,125 median debt, ROI grade A.
How College of Staten Island CUNY scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- 6-year graduation rate33.9% - The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our score, since a degree that is not finished rarely pays back.
College of Staten Island CUNY
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $7,490/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $15,440/yr |
| Average net price | $5,579/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $22,316 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $53,501 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $33,900 |
| Median debt at graduation | $14,350 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $152 |
| Estimated payback period | 8.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 33.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 9,657 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $7,490/year ($15,440/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $5,579/year, or roughly $22,316 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $3,903/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $13,444/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $14,350, which works out to about $152 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($33,900) and comes to 0.42, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
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 | $3,903 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $4,473 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $7,364 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $9,923 |
| $110,001+ | $13,444 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The $0-30,000 income bracket pays $3,903 per year net. At that cost, the 8.8-year payback period is reasonable even for graduates earning $33,900 at 6 years. For low-income NYC residents, CSI is a financially sound path if the student completes the degree.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($30,001-75,000) pay $4,473-$7,364 per year. Total 4-year cost for this bracket is roughly $18,000-$29,000. The payback case is strong if the student graduates; the completion rate risk is the primary financial hazard.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,001+ pay $13,444 per year. High-income families choosing CSI are likely doing so for geographic or program-specific reasons rather than necessity; the cost-value proposition holds.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at College of Staten Island CUNY with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $59,741 | C |
| Business Administration and Management | $60,530 | B |
| Sociology and Anthropology | $50,716 | B |
| Biology | $57,540 | C |
| English Language and Literature | $53,083 | C |
| Computer Science | $89,093 | B |
| Accounting | $72,242 | B |
| Communication and Media Studies | $61,691 | C+ |
| Teacher Education | $75,637 | B+ |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $75,272 | - |
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.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing is by far the strongest program at CSI: 30 graduates, $110,335 median year-one earnings, $113,631 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.155 (ROI grade A). NYC nurses command premium wages and the debt burden is very low at $17,125. This nursing program justifies its reputation as CSI's flagship.
Computer Science
Computer Science (80 graduates) earns $45,290 at year one and $89,093 at year four - a strong four-year trajectory that reflects NYC tech market wage growth. Debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.421 earns a B grade. Cost basis makes the absolute return competitive.
Business Administration and Management
Business Administration leads by graduate volume (160 graduates) and earns $29,736 year one, $60,530 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.402 (ROI grade B). Year-one earnings are low, reflecting the mix of graduates entering administrative, retail, and corporate roles from a commuter campus. The four-year figure shows meaningful career progression.
Psychology
Psychology has the highest graduate volume at CSI (283 graduates) and earns $28,118 year one, $59,741 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.591 (ROI grade C). Students expecting strong near-term earnings from a psych degree at CSI need to plan for further credentialing.
Biology
Biology (84 graduates) earns $28,217 year one and $57,540 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.686 (ROI grade C). The C grade reflects that many biology graduates either enter graduate or professional school - depressing early Scorecard earnings - or take roles in lab support and healthcare administration before career earnings rise. The four-year figure of $57k shows meaningful upward movement.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 53.5% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 60.4% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 51.7% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 58.4% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How College of Staten Island CUNY’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 92.3% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 430-630 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 460-620 |
| Enrollment | 9,657 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 49.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $12,665 |
CSI accepts 92.3% of applicants. SAT math 430-630 and reading 460-620 reflect the broad range of incoming academic preparation. No ACT data is reported. Open-access is a feature for working-class NYC students who need a local path to a degree, but it places the completion burden on the student rather than the institution.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| College of Staten Island CUNY (this school) | 67 | $5,579 | $53,501 |
| CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | 92 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
| CUNY Brooklyn College | 81 | $3,103 | $60,752 |
| Ferris State University | 68 | $8,624 | $54,735 |
| Central Washington University | 68 | $18,476 | $61,580 |
| Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | 67 | $14,889 | $56,346 |
Who Thrives Here
CSI serves a large commuter population (9,657 enrolled) in New York City's most car-dependent borough, with 49.6% Pell grant recipients indicating substantial low-income enrollment. It admits 92.3% of applicants. The 33.9% completion rate is the central risk factor - students who do not complete leave with debt and no degree premium.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
College of Staten Island CUNY is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $5,579 a year after aid ($22,316 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $53,501 a decade out, the cost takes about 8.8 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, manageable debt relative to earnings. What to keep an eye on: its 33.9% graduation rate, a three-year loan repayment rate of 60.4% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $14,350 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $33,900 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
College of Staten Island CUNY: Common Questions
Is College of Staten Island CUNY worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether College of Staten Island CUNY is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 67/100 on our ROI scale. At $5,579 a year after aid ($22,316 over four years) against $53,501 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 8.8 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does College of Staten Island CUNY cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $5,579 a year, or roughly $22,316 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do College of Staten Island CUNY graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $53,501 ten years after enrolling, roughly $11,701 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off College of Staten Island CUNY?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 8.8 years for College of Staten Island CUNY. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do College of Staten Island CUNY graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $14,350, against average earnings of $33,900 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at College of Staten Island CUNY?
The six-year graduation rate is 33.9%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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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.