CUNY Hunter College
New York, New York · Public · 53.8% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 83/100 · Strong Value
CUNY Hunter College, a flagship public university in Manhattan, scores 83 (Strong Value tier) - one of the highest scores in this batch, and deservedly so. The financial setup is extraordinary: in-state tuition of $7,382, average net price of just $2,984, and a four-year total cost of only $11,936. That's not a typo - Hunter is one of the most affordable four-year colleges in America for in-state residents. Median earnings six years out are $39,300, ramping powerfully to $63,163 by year ten. Median federal debt is just $11,000, producing a 0.28 debt-to-earnings ratio (sub-score 96) - elite by any measure. Earnings premium of 2.36 (sub-score 100) is exceptional and reflects how much value graduates extract from the New York metro labor market relative to the school's negligible cost. Payback period of 5.4 years (sub-score 92) is genuinely fast. Where the score gets dragged down: completion rate of 56.9% (sub-score 54) and 64.9% three-year repayment rate (sub-score 26) reflect Hunter's heavily working-class commuter population (55.9% Pell) where life circumstances drive attrition more than academic underqualification. The honest read: Hunter is one of the great public-college values in America. Students who finish - particularly in nursing, computer science, accounting, or any of the dozen+ programs grading A or B+ - hit some of the cleanest payback math in the country. The institutional issue is persistence, not value or quality.
CUNY Hunter College scores in the top 25% of all schools we track, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
CUNY Hunter College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $7,382/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $15,332/yr |
| Average net price | $2,984/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $11,936 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $63,163 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $39,300 |
| Median debt at graduation | $11,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $117 |
| Estimated payback period | 5.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 56.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 16,289 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at CUNY Hunter College is $7,382/year ($15,332/year out-of-state). But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $2,984/year, or roughly $11,936 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $1,029/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $12,259/year. The school provides substantial aid to low-income students, making it significantly more affordable than the sticker price suggests.
The median graduate leaves with $11,000 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $117 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $63,163 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.28 - well within manageable territory.
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 | $1,935 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $6,003 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $8,810 |
| $110,001+ | $12,259 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay just $1,029 net annually - effectively free. NY state TAP plus Pell covers the entire cost for low-income students. Combined with strong outcomes, this is one of the most powerful low-income value propositions in American higher education. Low-income students who finish at Hunter capture the full earnings premium with virtually zero borrowing.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-$75,000) pay $6,003 per year, about $24,012 over four years. The aid grading is reasonable. Combined with strong post-graduation earnings, this is excellent value for working middle-class New Yorkers - probably the strongest middle-income tier in this batch.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
High-income families ($110,001+) pay $12,259 per year, totaling about $49,036 across four years - still well below the cost of a single year at most private peers. For high-income NYC families, Hunter is genuinely competitive with private schools costing 4-5x more, particularly for ambitious students targeting graduate or professional school.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at CUNY Hunter College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $59,149 | B+ |
| Human Biology | $83,420 | B+ |
| Computer Science | $102,321 | A |
| Biology | $59,204 | B |
| Registered Nursing | $116,361 | A |
| Sociology | $57,965 | B |
| English Language and Literature | $55,759 | B |
| Communication and Media Studies | $55,182 | B |
| International Relations | $62,040 | B+ |
| Economics | $69,920 | 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.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is Hunter's clearest ROI superstar: 176 graduates with $103,692 in 1-year median earnings, $116,361 at 4 years, $16,944 in median debt, and a 0.16 debt-to-earnings ratio for an A grade. NYC RN salaries are among the highest in the country, and Hunter's BSN graduates capture that premium with extraordinarily low debt. This is one of the cleanest ROI programs in this entire batch.
Computer Science
Computer Science produces 292 graduates - a large cohort - with $76,747 starting, $102,321 at 4 years, just $8,250 in median debt, and a 0.11 debt-to-earnings ratio for an A grade. NYC's massive tech labor market combined with Hunter's near-zero cost produces remarkable ROI. This program competes with elite privates on outcomes at a fraction of the cost.
Psychology
Psychology produces 641 graduates - the largest cohort - with $31,706 starting, $59,149 at 4 years, $10,923 in median debt, and a 0.35 debt-to-earnings ratio for a B+ grade. The strong 4-year earnings ramp reflects students pursuing master's-level licensure. Even before graduate study, the modest debt load makes the math workable.
Human Biology
Human Biology produces 401 graduates with $31,891 starting, $83,420 at 4 years, $11,000 in median debt, and a 0.35 debt-to-earnings ratio for a B+ grade. The dramatic 1-to-4-year earnings jump reflects pre-med, dental, and PA students who continue to graduate school and emerge into clinical roles. Hunter's pre-health pipeline is genuinely elite.
Accounting
Accounting produces 71 graduates with $54,617 starting, $75,803 at 4 years, $11,070 in median debt, and a 0.20 debt-to-earnings ratio for an A grade. NYC's accounting and finance labor market provides direct entry to Big Four and corporate roles, and the CPA pathway gives graduates structural earnings lift. Outstanding ROI.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 60.7% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 64.9% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 60.3% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 66.0% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 53.8% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 550-720 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 550-700 |
| Enrollment | 16,289 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 55.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $12,726 |
Hunter admits 53.8% of applicants, the most selective profile in this batch. SAT mid-range Math 550-720, Reading 550-700 indicates a strong academic profile, particularly at the upper bound where Hunter competes with private peers. ACT data is not reported (most NYC applicants take SAT). The 56.9% completion rate substantially understates academic performance because it captures life-circumstance attrition in a heavily working-class commuter population. Prepared students who can stay enrolled hit elite outcomes.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Hunter's peer set includes CUNY Baruch (a similar standout for finance/accounting outcomes), CUNY Brooklyn, UConn, UNF, and UMass Amherst. Within the public flagship cohort, Hunter's earnings premium is genuinely elite thanks to NYC labor market access. UMass Amherst posts comparable outcomes but at much higher net price. UConn and UNF are strong publics but lack Hunter's metro wage premium. Among CUNY peers, Baruch concentrates more on business while Hunter has the deeper liberal arts and pre-health bench. Hunter is competitive with Baruch on aggregate ROI.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| CUNY Hunter College (this school) | 83 | $2,984 | $63,163 |
| CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | 92 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
| University of Connecticut | 85 | $25,097 | $73,997 |
| 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 |
Who Thrives Here
Hunter fits the academically prepared NYC-area student looking for an elite-quality public university experience at near-zero net cost. Pell rate of 55.9% indicates a heavily working-class, first-generation, and immigrant-heritage student body. Enrollment of 16,289 makes it the largest CUNY senior college. The fit case is exceptionally strong for students targeting nursing, computer science, accounting, or pre-health pathways - particularly first-generation students for whom Hunter's combination of low cost and high outcome ceiling is genuinely transformational. The commuter culture works for working students; less so for those wanting traditional residential experience.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
CUNY Hunter College delivers above-average financial returns for its graduates. At a net cost of $2,984 per year ($11,936 over four years), graduates earn a median of $63,163 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback period at roughly 5.4 years - a solid return on the investment.
Key strengths include strong earnings premium over high school graduates, manageable debt relative to earnings. However, the data also shows concerning loan repayment rates.
Median debt of $11,000 is very manageable against $63,163 in annual earnings - well within the financial advisor rule of thumb that total debt should not exceed first-year salary.
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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.