CUNY York College
Jamaica, New York · Public · 64.1% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 72/100 · Fair Value
CUNY York College sits at a Fair Value tier with an overall ROI score of 72, a result driven by a punishingly low cost base rather than stellar outcomes. In-state tuition runs $7,358 and the average net price after aid is just $4,456 per year, one of the lowest figures you will find at any four-year institution in the United States. That cheap entry point is doing almost all of the heavy lifting: median debt at graduation is $11,000, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.327 is healthy, and the typical graduate pays back their education in roughly 7.2 years. Ten-year median earnings of $56,945 are solid for a regional public serving Queens, and the earnings premium subscore lands at 99. The weak spot is unmistakable: the six-year completion rate is only 32.3%, meaning roughly two of every three first-time degree-seekers do not finish on this campus within six years. Repayment performance is also soft, with only about 57.5% of borrowers reducing principal three years out. The takeaway is that for students who actually graduate, York is one of the best price-to-payoff bets in CUNY; for those who do not finish, the calculus changes quickly because earnings premiums are conditional on completion.
The data raises concerns about CUNY York College
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- 6-year graduation rate32.3% - Well below the 60% national average. Non-completion is the fastest route to negative ROI.
CUNY York College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $7,358/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $15,308/yr |
| Average net price | $4,456/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $17,824 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $56,945 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $33,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $11,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $117 |
| Estimated payback period | 7.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 32.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 4,345 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at CUNY York College is $7,358/year ($15,308/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 $4,456/year, or roughly $17,824 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $2,861/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $12,520/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 $56,945 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.33 - 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 | $2,861 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $4,161 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $7,426 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $9,383 |
| $110,001+ | $12,520 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay an average net price of $2,861 per year, an extraordinary figure that means a four-year degree can be earned for under $12,000 out of pocket if Pell and TAP grants stack as expected. For this bracket York is essentially a free or near-free credential as long as the student completes. The risk is not money but persistence: stopping out before the degree wipes out the implicit subsidy.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $7,426 net annually and the $75,001-$110,000 bracket pays $9,383, which is still well below the public four-year national average. Middle-income New York families using York as a commuter option capture most of the upside of low CUNY tuition without taking on meaningful debt; even at full freight the 4-year total is around $30,000-$37,000, leaving the typical $11,000 debt load very manageable.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Households over $110,000 pay $12,520 annually, which is roughly $50,000 across four years. That is more than triple the lowest-bracket figure but still cheaper than most private alternatives, and York's ROI math holds up even at full price thanks to the strong earnings premium. The bigger consideration for this income tier is whether a more selective campus with higher completion rates would justify a higher net price.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at CUNY York College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $60,346 | B+ |
| Psychology | $53,156 | B+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $62,993 | B+ |
| Registered Nursing | $112,147 | A |
| Accounting | $67,152 | B+ |
| Social Work | $60,820 | A |
| Sociology | $59,899 | B |
| Biology | $69,149 | B |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | $122,313 | A |
| Computer Science | $73,044 | - |
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 York's single best ROI program. Median first-year earnings of $113,718 and 4-year earnings of $112,147 are extraordinary and reflect NYC hospital wage scales. Median debt of $12,125 against a 0.107 debt-to-earnings ratio earns an A grade. With 48 graduates per year, the program is large enough to be a genuine pathway rather than a small specialty. Career outcomes include hospital RN roles, specialty units, and rapid wage growth via overtime and certifications.
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science
Clinical lab science posts $105,425 first-year and $122,313 four-year earnings on $11,000 of median debt, a 0.104 ratio that earns an A. Graduates feed into hospital labs, pathology departments, and biotech research roles, all of which pay well in the NYC market. With 34 graduates per year this is a smaller cohort than nursing but the per-graduate ROI is among the highest in the entire CUNY system.
Health Services/Allied Health, General
This is York's largest program by graduate count at 212 per year. Median first-year earnings of $39,837 are modest, but four-year earnings climb to $60,346 as graduates move into supervisory or specialty roles. Median debt of $13,488 yields a 0.339 ratio and a B+ grade. The volume here matters: a substantial share of York's graduates exit through this program, and the trajectory rewards those who use it as a feeder into nursing, PA school, or hospital management.
Psychology
Psychology graduates 114 per year with $38,701 first-year and $53,156 four-year earnings. Median debt of $11,000 keeps the debt-to-earnings ratio at 0.284 and the ROI grade at B+. This is a respectable outcome for a major that nationally posts much weaker numbers, but the ceiling is constrained without graduate work. Students should plan on a master's or LCSW track to fully realize earnings growth.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business administration produces 76 graduates yearly with $42,499 first-year and $62,993 four-year earnings. At $12,925 of median debt, the 0.304 ratio earns a B+. Career paths cluster in NYC operations, financial services support roles, and small-business management. The earnings trajectory is strong relative to cost but lags Baruch and other CUNY business programs, so career-services engagement is critical.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 49.6% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 57.5% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 51.1% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 54.0% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 64.1% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 380-480 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 410-480 |
| Enrollment | 4,345 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 40.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,822 |
Admission is moderately selective in name only, with an admit rate of 64.1%. SAT mid-ranges land at 380-480 Math and 410-480 Reading, well below national averages and indicating an open-access posture toward NYC public-school graduates. ACT data is not reported. The low SAT bands help explain the 32% completion rate: York enrolls many under-prepared students who balance work, family, and commuting, and academic momentum is the main risk factor.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
York's peer set runs from elite to regional. CUNY Bernard M. Baruch College and CUNY Brooklyn College are the natural in-system comparisons and both post stronger completion and earnings; Baruch in particular operates in a different ROI tier thanks to its business-school brand. University of Michigan-Dearborn and University of Alabama in Huntsville are out-of-state regional publics with materially higher completion rates and higher sticker prices. University of Arkansas Grantham is an online-leaning peer with similar completion challenges. Among that set, York wins on raw affordability but lags on degree-completion throughput.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| CUNY York College (this school) | 72 | $4,456 | $56,945 |
| CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | 92 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
| CUNY Brooklyn College | 81 | $3,103 | $60,752 |
| University of Michigan-Dearborn | 72 | $9,492 | $59,649 |
| University of Alabama in Huntsville | 69 | $18,796 | $61,767 |
| University of Arkansas Grantham | 69 | $8,370 | $63,496 |
Who Thrives Here
York fits commuter students from the five boroughs who need a low-cost path into nursing, allied health, accounting, or computing and who can self-manage a long, often-interrupted timeline. Pell rate is 40.1%, enrollment is 4,345, and the campus serves a heavily working, first-generation population. Students who graduate from the nursing or clinical lab science programs see exceptional outcomes; students who drift through general studies face high stop-out risk. Self-discipline and a clear major pick day one are the single biggest predictors of whether the cheap tuition pays off.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
CUNY York College offers fair financial value, though the ROI depends heavily on individual circumstances. The net cost of $4,456 per year leads to $17,824 over four years, while graduates earn a median of $56,945 a decade out. The payback period of 7.2 years is about average - not bad, but not a standout either.
Key strengths include strong earnings premium over high school graduates, manageable debt relative to earnings. However, the data also shows a 32.3% graduation rate and concerning loan repayment rates.
Median debt of $11,000 is very manageable against $56,945 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.