CUNY City College
New York, New York · Public · 60.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 82/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
CUNY City College scores 82 (Strong Value) on the CampusROI scale - a score built on a remarkable cost structure and strong STEM earnings despite significant structural drag from a 56.8% completion rate and 62.4% repayment rate. The earnings premium sub-score is a perfect 100 (raw: 2.055). Net price averages $3,776 per year - with the lowest income bracket paying only $1,251 per year. Economics (99 graduates, A grade) and Mechanical Engineering (100 graduates, A grade) further anchor the engineering-business core. The completion rate (56.8%) and repayment rate (62.4%) are the two weakest sub-scores; the repayment rate reflects that many borrowers are not reducing principal on their loans, which warrants attention. Pell grant rate of 60.5% reflects a predominantly low-income student body accessing high-value STEM education.
CUNY City College scores in the top 11% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
CUNY City College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $7,340/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $15,290/yr |
| Average net price | $3,776/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $15,104 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $66,039 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $36,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $11,990 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $127 |
| Estimated payback period | 5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 56.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 12,505 |
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: $7,340/year ($15,290/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $3,776/year, or roughly $15,104 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 $1,251/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $12,806/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 $11,990, which works out to about $127 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($36,800) and comes to 0.33, 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 | $1,251 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $2,990 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $6,811 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $9,982 |
| $110,001+ | $12,806 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $1,251 per year at CUNY City College - roughly $5,000 over four years if completed. Average 6-year earnings are $36,800. A CS or engineering graduate from this bracket invests $5,000 total and earns $83,000 in their first year of work. The completion risk (56.8%) is the primary concern; low-income students who don't complete face debt without credentials.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $6,811 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $9,982 per year. At these levels, City College represents exceptional value for middle-income families whose students complete STEM programs. Even for humanities and social science majors with more modest earnings, the net price is low enough to produce manageable payback periods.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000 or more pay $12,806 per year. Against the strong engineering and CS outcomes, City College's high-income case is financially compelling for families who prioritize outcome quality and low cost.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at CUNY City College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $56,223 | B+ |
| Biology | $63,206 | B |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $45,656 | C |
| Computer Science | $116,238 | A |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $58,063 | B+ |
| Mechanical Engineering | $97,270 | A |
| Economics | $67,679 | A |
| Teacher Education | $55,895 | B+ |
| Electrical Engineering | $97,698 | A |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $64,414 | B+ |
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 Science
Computer Science (105 graduates) earns an A grade: $83,258 year-one and $116,238 year-four against only $8,623 in median debt - a ratio of 0.104. At $3,776 average net price, CS graduates from City College recover their full four-year educational investment within approximately two months of their first paycheck.
Electrical Engineering
Electrical Engineering (83 graduates) earns an A grade: $78,172 year-one and $97,698 year-four with $13,563 median debt and a ratio of 0.174. New York City's technology and engineering sectors create significant demand for EE graduates, and City College's program has produced engineers for Con Edison, defense contractors, and technology companies for over a century. The four-year trajectory to $98k is consistent with EE career progression in the New York metro market.
Economics
Economics (99 graduates) earns an A grade: $45,556 year-one and $67,679 year-four with only $7,300 in median debt and a ratio of 0.160. The debt figure is extraordinarily low - lower even than the already-low institutional average - suggesting that economics graduates borrow minimally or repay quickly. Year-one earnings of $46k are moderate but the four-year trajectory to $68k reflects movement into financial services, consulting, and policy roles in the New York labor market.
Psychology
Psychology (432 graduates) earns a B+ grade: $30,925 year-one and $56,223 year-four with $10,000 median debt and a ratio of 0.323. The B+ grade is strong for psychology nationally, driven by the very low debt level (City College's low cost limits borrowing) and the New York City labor market's ability to absorb psychology graduates in human services, healthcare support, and related fields. The four-year jump to $56k is substantial for a psychology credential.
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Drama/Theatre Arts (36 graduates) earns an F grade: $15,098 year-one and $32,769 year-four with $17,739 median debt and a ratio of 1.175. Year-one debt exceeds annual earnings, and the four-year trajectory to $33k is limited. The performing arts labor market in New York City is competitive and produces these results consistently regardless of the institution.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 56.6% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 62.4% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 57.5% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 59.4% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How CUNY City 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 | 60.0% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 530-730 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 540-700 |
| Enrollment | 12,505 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 60.5% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $13,231 |
At 60.0% admission, City College operates with moderate selectivity in aggregate, but program-specific admission requirements vary. The 56.8% completion rate is the primary risk metric; students should investigate persistence rates within their specific program, as engineering and CS cohorts likely show different completion patterns than the institutional average.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| CUNY City College (this school) | 82 | $3,776 | $66,039 |
| CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | 92 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
| University of Massachusetts-Amherst | 83 | $22,383 | $71,631 |
| CUNY Brooklyn College | 81 | $3,103 | $60,752 |
| University of North Florida | 78 | $10,154 | $56,343 |
| University of Vermont | 78 | $19,343 | $62,472 |
Who Thrives Here
CUNY City College admits 60.0% of applicants and enrolls 12,505 students in Harlem, New York City. Pell grant rate of 60.5% indicates the large majority of students come from low-to-middle income backgrounds. The school has a historically significant engineering and sciences tradition, drawing heavily from New York City's diverse immigrant communities. Students who complete STEM degrees from City College enter New York's technology, engineering, and financial sectors with credentials that command strong salaries. SAT mid-ranges are 530-730 Math and 540-700 Reading.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, CUNY City College pays off. You'd pay about $3,776 a year after aid ($15,104 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $66,039 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 5 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 62.4% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
Median debt of $11,990 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $36,800 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.33, 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.
CUNY City College: Common Questions
Is CUNY City College worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students CUNY City College pays off. It scores 82/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $3,776 a year after aid ($15,104 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $66,039 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 5 years to earn back.
How much does CUNY City 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 $3,776 a year, or roughly $15,104 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 City College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $66,039 ten years after enrolling, roughly $24,239 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 City 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 years for CUNY City College. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do CUNY City College graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $11,990, against average earnings of $36,800 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.33. 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 CUNY City College?
The six-year graduation rate is 56.8%. 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.