CUNY Lehman College
Bronx, New York · Public · 56.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 78/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
CUNY Lehman College scores 78 (Strong Value) despite a completion rate of only 51.3% - the school's low cost structure is doing the heavy lifting. Net price of $3,148 per year and a total 4-year cost of $12,592 make Lehman an affordable pathway to a college credential. Average 6-year earnings of $36,700 are modest. The payback period is 6.6 years - reasonable given the low net price. The weak repayment rate (62%, subscore 21) is a genuine concern and suggests many graduates carry debt they cannot easily service.
CUNY Lehman College scores in the top 15% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
CUNY Lehman College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $7,410/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $15,360/yr |
| Average net price | $3,148/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $12,592 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $58,013 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $36,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $10,950 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $116 |
| Estimated payback period | 6.6 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 51.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 10,696 |
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: $7,410/year ($15,360/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $3,148/year, or roughly $12,592 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 $1,589/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $13,600/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 $10,950, which works out to about $116 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($36,700) 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 | $1,589 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $2,374 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $6,834 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $9,696 |
| $110,001+ | $13,600 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The lowest income bracket (0-$30,000) pays $1,589 per year in net price at Lehman - an extraordinary figure that makes college costs nearly negligible for Pell-eligible students. With median debt of $10,950 and year-one earnings of $36,700, low-income graduates face a manageable financial situation if they complete the degree. The challenge is the 51.3% completion rate; students who leave without a degree absorb costs without the earnings benefit.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families in the $48,001-75,000 range pay $6,834 per year, and the $75,001-110,000 band pays $9,696. The payback period of 6.6 years is achievable for most completers in this income range, particularly those entering nursing or tech.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The $110,001+ bracket pays $13,600 per year, or about $54,400 over four years. For high-income students who genuinely prefer Lehman's program mix (nursing, health sciences, public service), the cost advantage remains real.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at CUNY Lehman College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $54,063 | B+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $62,496 | B+ |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $57,722 | B+ |
| Sociology | $54,906 | B+ |
| Registered Nursing | $119,115 | A |
| Accounting | $66,240 | B+ |
| Social Work | $62,955 | B+ |
| Biology | $52,420 | C+ |
| Computer Science | $85,351 | A |
| Communication Disorders Sciences | $61,761 | 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
Registered Nursing is Lehman's highest-earning program and a genuine standout: 145 graduates, $101,531 median year-one earnings, $119,115 at year four. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.198 (ROI grade A) reflects median debt of $20,055 against six-figure early earnings. Nursing from a CUNY institution at this price point is an exceptional deal - nurses in the New York metro earn at the top of the national scale, and the credential converts directly to employment in one of the country's largest healthcare markets.
Computer Science
Computer Science delivers strong outcomes for 100 graduates: $59,516 at year one, $85,351 at year four, with debt-to-earnings of 0.224 (ROI grade A). Median debt of $13,317 against those earnings makes this one of the better ROI profiles at the school. The New York tech labor market absorbs Lehman CS graduates into corporate and government positions; year-four earnings near $85k reflect steady career progression for those who complete the degree.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is Lehman's largest program at 279 graduates, with year-one earnings of $42,890 and year-four of $62,496. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.258 (ROI grade B+) reflects median debt of $11,047. Outcomes are decent but not exceptional: $62k at year four for a business graduate. The program's value is primarily its low cost, not premium earnings.
Psychology
Psychology is the single largest program at Lehman with 332 graduates, but the earnings trajectory is weak: $36,913 at year one. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.278 (ROI grade B+) is acceptable given the school's low net price, but year-one earnings of $36,913 barely exceed the overall 6-year average of $36,700. Students entering psychology at Lehman should have a clear plan - graduate school or a specific applied career - or they risk poor financial outcomes despite the school's low cost.
Communication and Media Studies
Communication and Media Studies graduates 59 students with $32,484 year-one earnings and $50,265 at year four. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.450 (ROI grade C+) reflects a program where low debt (median $14,623) partially offsets modest earnings. Year-four earnings near $50k are typical for communications roles in media and public relations in regional markets.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 55.4% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 62.0% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 55.2% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 58.8% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How CUNY Lehman 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 | 56.6% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 410-560 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 440-590 |
| Enrollment | 10,696 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 59.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,996 |
No ACT data is reported. Students who meet basic admission requirements should expect acceptance; the bigger challenge at Lehman is persistence to graduation, not admission.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Lehman's score of 78 reflects the tension between exceptional cost efficiency and weak persistence metrics.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| CUNY Lehman College (this school) | 78 | $3,148 | $58,013 |
| CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | 92 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
| 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 |
| University of Michigan-Dearborn | 72 | $9,492 | $59,649 |
Who Thrives Here
Lehman serves a heavily Pell-eligible population - 59.9% of students receive Pell grants - and is a genuine open-access institution accepting 56.6% of applicants. SAT mid-ranges of 410-560 Math and 440-590 Reading reflect an academically diverse student body, not a selective cohort. Students who thrive here are typically working adults, first-generation college students, and Bronx-area residents who need an affordable credential. The 51.3% completion rate means fewer than half of entering students finish a degree within 6 years; students should plan seriously for academic support and realistic timelines. Lehman is not a fit for students seeking a traditional 4-year residential experience.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, CUNY Lehman College pays off. You'd pay about $3,148 a year after aid ($12,592 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $58,013 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 6.6 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: its 51.3% graduation rate, a three-year loan repayment rate of 62.0% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%).
On debt, you can breathe a little easier here. Median debt of $10,950 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $36,700 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 Lehman College: Common Questions
Is CUNY Lehman College worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students CUNY Lehman College pays off. It scores 78/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $3,148 a year after aid ($12,592 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $58,013 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 6.6 years to earn back.
How much does CUNY Lehman 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 $3,148 a year, or roughly $12,592 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 Lehman College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $58,013 ten years after enrolling, roughly $16,213 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 Lehman 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 6.6 years for CUNY Lehman College. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do CUNY Lehman College graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $10,950, against average earnings of $36,700 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 Lehman College?
The six-year graduation rate is 51.3%. 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.