CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College at a Glance
Baruch College is a public college in Manhattan, New York, United States. It is a constituent college of the City University of New York system. Named for financier and statesman Bernard M. Baruch, the college operates undergraduate and postgraduate programs through the Zicklin School of Business, the Weissman School of Arts and Sciences, and the Marxe School of Public and International Affairs.
1919
107 years old
$292M
$291.8 million (Baruch College), $3.6 billion ( City University of New York )
19,740
275,000 undergrad · 3,966 grad
1,221
3 acres
Prestige & value signals
Identity
Is CUNY Bernard M Baruch College Worth It?
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $3,033/year net price and $75,971 median earnings, graduates earn 25.0× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.2 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 72% graduation rate means roughly 28% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
Median student debt of $11,512 is manageable at just 15% of first-year post-graduation earnings.
Bottom line: CUNY Bernard M Baruch College delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How CUNY Bernard M Baruch College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #1 of 5 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | 100 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
| #2 | Foothill College | 100 | $7,653 | $57,072 |
| #3 | CUNY Hunter College | 100 | $2,984 | $63,163 |
| #4 | Clemson University | 70 | $22,253 | $71,513 |
| #5 | University of Connecticut | 62 | $25,097 | $73,997 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of CUNY Bernard M Baruch College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 1 in NY.
Best Programs at CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
The highest-earning program at CUNY Bernard M Baruch College is Mathematics at $58,400/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at $24,600/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Mathematics graduate from CUNY Bernard M Baruch College earns $58,400, while a Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities graduate earns $24,600. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $3,033/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | $58,400 | $58,400 | N/A |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $46,900 | $46,900 | $11,300 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $46,400 | $46,400 | $11,125 |
| Economics | $44,600 | $44,600 | $12,250 |
| Information Science/Studies | $42,800 | $42,800 | $8,983 |
| Business/Corporate Communications | $42,000 | $42,000 | $11,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $41,800 | $41,800 | $11,000 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $41,000 | $41,000 | $6,797 |
| International Business | $38,900 | $38,900 | N/A |
| General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations | $38,800 | $38,800 | $12,000 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $38,200 | $38,200 | $12,000 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | $36,400 | $36,400 | N/A |
| Psychology, General | $35,000 | $35,000 | $12,500 |
| Real Estate | $34,300 | $34,300 | N/A |
| Public Administration | $32,300 | $32,300 | $12,500 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | $31,500 | $31,500 | $12,718 |
| Political Science and Government | $29,700 | $29,700 | $15,271 |
| Journalism | $28,800 | $28,800 | $8,363 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $26,400 | $26,400 | N/A |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $24,600 | $24,600 | N/A |
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Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- New York, NY
- Student Body
- 16,154 students
- Admission Rate
- 48%
- Graduation Rate
- 72%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $3,033
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $75,971
- Median Student Debt
- $11,512