CUNY Brooklyn College
Brooklyn, New York · Public · 58.4% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 81/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
CUNY Brooklyn College scores 81 (Strong Value) on the CampusROI scale, largely on the strength of an extraordinary earnings premium (raw score 2.075) and a 5.9-year payback period driven by the extremely low net cost. The average net price of $3,103 - just $12,412 for four years - is the defining financial feature of this institution. Median debt of $11,000 against $36,900 average 6-year earnings produces a 0.298 debt-to-earnings ratio. The serious drag on the score comes from completion (53.9% rate, sub-score 47) and repayment (63.2% rate, sub-score 23) - fewer than two in three graduates who borrow are reducing their principal within three years of entering repayment. Computer and Information Sciences leads by both volume and earnings: 194 graduates, $51,862 year-one, $89,943 four-year, ROI grade A. Business Administration (419 graduates) and Teacher Education (212 graduates) are the highest-volume programs.
CUNY Brooklyn College scores in the top 13% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
CUNY Brooklyn College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $7,452/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $15,402/yr |
| Average net price | $3,103/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $12,412 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $60,752 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $36,900 |
| Median debt at graduation | $11,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $117 |
| Estimated payback period | 5.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 53.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 10,543 |
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: $7,452/year ($15,402/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $3,103/year, or roughly $12,412 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 $1,029/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $12,254/year. If money is tight, that matters: this school gives low-income students enough aid to land well below the sticker price.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $11,000, which works out to about $117 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($36,900) and comes to 0.30, 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 | $1,029 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $2,287 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $6,193 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $8,917 |
| $110,001+ | $12,254 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Students in the 0-30000 income bracket pay $1,029 net price per year at CUNY Brooklyn College - effectively free after grants. The 30001-48000 bracket pays $2,287. For low-income New York City students, Brooklyn College is a transformational access point: a four-year credential with minimal debt, access to one of the world's largest labor markets, and program options across business, education, health, and STEM. The 53.9% completion rate is the risk factor; low-income students should build strong advising relationships from enrollment.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $6,193; the 75001-110000 bracket pays $8,917. Even at upper-middle-income bands, Brooklyn College's four-year cost is under $36,000. The average 6-year earnings of $36,900 and 5.9-year payback period deliver a compelling return for families at any income level below the highest bracket.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The 110001-plus bracket pays $12,254 per year - $49,000 all-in for four years. This is essentially the floor for selective private liberal arts colleges' annual tuition. For high-income families who want New York City access, academic diversity, and low debt, Brooklyn College is an underutilized option.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at CUNY Brooklyn College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $52,742 | B |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $61,323 | B+ |
| Teacher Education | $58,828 | B+ |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $89,943 | A |
| Accounting | $64,103 | B+ |
| Biology | $53,786 | C |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $44,032 | C |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $80,207 | B+ |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | $58,821 | B+ |
| Communication Disorders Sciences | $50,821 | C+ |
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.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences is Brooklyn College's strongest ROI program: 194 graduates, $51,862 year-one, $89,943 four-year, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.231 (ROI grade A). Median debt of $12,000 - essentially the CUNY aid floor - means CS graduates enter the workforce with very low debt relative to earnings. The $89,943 four-year figure reflects placement into New York City's technology and finance sectors.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is the highest-volume program at Brooklyn College with 419 graduates. Year-one earnings of $37,057 and four-year of $61,323 produce a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.297 (ROI grade B+). At $11,000 median debt, this is an excellent outcome for a high-volume program - graduates carry minimal debt and access New York City's financial services and corporate job market. The B+ grade at this volume and price point makes Business Administration an accessible strong-ROI program.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education has 212 graduates with year-one earnings of $37,223 and four-year of $58,828. Debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.292 (ROI grade B+) - strong for education at any institution, reflecting the low CUNY debt load. New York City teachers earn above national medians, and $58,828 at four years is competitive with neighboring states. Median debt of $10,862 is exceptionally low.
Accounting
Accounting produces 187 graduates with $42,862 year-one and $64,103 four-year earnings, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.318 (ROI grade B+). At $13,620 median debt, the debt load is modest relative to CPA-track earnings. The four-year figure of $64k reflects placement into regional and national accounting firms from Brooklyn's diverse student body. Accounting remains a direct pathway to middle-class earnings for CUNY students who complete the credential and pass licensure requirements.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 56.7% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 63.2% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 57.0% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 60.8% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How CUNY Brooklyn College’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 | 58.4% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 490-680 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 460-660 |
| Enrollment | 10,543 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 57.0% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $12,737 |
At 58.4%, Brooklyn College is moderately selective. SAT mid-ranges (490-680 Math, 460-660 Reading) cover a wide range consistent with the open-access mission. The institution does not report ACT data. Admission is not the primary constraint on student success here - retention and completion are the issues that produce the 53.9% graduation rate. Students should investigate program-specific completion rates and seek advising support early.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| CUNY Brooklyn College (this school) | 81 | $3,103 | $60,752 |
| CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | 92 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
| The College of New Jersey | 83 | $27,646 | $73,323 |
| University of North Florida | 78 | $10,154 | $56,343 |
| University of Vermont | 78 | $19,343 | $62,472 |
| College of Staten Island CUNY | 67 | $5,579 | $53,501 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See CUNY Brooklyn College side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
CUNY Brooklyn College admits 58.4% of applicants and enrolls 10,543 undergraduates in Brooklyn, New York. SAT mid-ranges are 490-680 Math and 460-660 Reading - an unusually wide band reflecting a diverse applicant pool. ACT data is not reported by the Scorecard. The Pell grant rate is 57%. Students from New York City households who cannot afford private college costs, or who need to work while enrolled, will find Brooklyn College a rare combination of low cost and strong labor market access. The wide completion spread suggests significant variation in outcomes by program and individual circumstance.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, CUNY Brooklyn College pays off. You'd pay about $3,103 a year after aid ($12,412 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $60,752 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 5.9 years, a solid return.
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: a three-year loan repayment rate of 63.2% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
On debt, you can breathe a little easier here. Median debt of $11,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $36,900 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.30: well under 1.0, the point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings.
CUNY Brooklyn College: Common Questions
Is CUNY Brooklyn College worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students CUNY Brooklyn College pays off. It scores 81/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $3,103 a year after aid ($12,412 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $60,752 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 5.9 years to earn back.
How much does CUNY Brooklyn College 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 $3,103 a year, or roughly $12,412 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 CUNY Brooklyn College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $60,752 ten years after enrolling, roughly $18,952 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 CUNY Brooklyn College?
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 5.9 years for CUNY Brooklyn College. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do CUNY Brooklyn College graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $11,000, against average earnings of $36,900 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.30. In our view that is very manageable: well under 1.0, the point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings.
What is the graduation rate at CUNY Brooklyn College?
The six-year graduation rate is 53.9%. 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.