CUNY Brooklyn College
CUNY Brooklyn College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
CUNY Brooklyn College at a Glance
Brooklyn College (BC) is a public university in Brooklyn in New York City, New York. It is part of the City University of New York (CUNY) system and enrolled nearly 14,000 students on a 35-acre (14 ha) campus in the Midwood and Flatbush sections of Brooklyn as of fall 2023.
1930
96 years old
$98M
$98.0 million (2019)
4,000
14,000 undergrad · 2,605 grad
1,259
35 acres
Identity
Is CUNY Brooklyn College Worth It?
CUNY Brooklyn College is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $3,103/year net price and $60,752 median earnings, graduates earn 19.6× 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.
A 55% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 6 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
Median student debt of $11,000 is manageable at just 18% of first-year post-graduation earnings.
Bottom line: CUNY Brooklyn College delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How CUNY Brooklyn College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in NY
Ranked #1 of 36 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 Brooklyn College | 100 | $3,103 | $60,752 |
| #2 | Foothill College | 100 | $7,653 | $57,072 |
| #3 | Skyline College | 100 | $1,738 | $55,702 |
| #4 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice | 100 | $3,203 | $56,195 |
| #5 | CUNY Queens College | 100 | $4,195 | $62,763 |
| #6 | University of North Florida | 95 | $10,154 | $56,343 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of CUNY Brooklyn College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 6 in NY.
Best Programs at CUNY Brooklyn College
The highest-earning program at CUNY Brooklyn College is Computer and Information Sciences, General at $47,500/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Chemistry at $11,100/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Computer and Information Sciences, General graduate from CUNY Brooklyn College earns $47,500, while a Chemistry graduate earns $11,100. 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 $3,103/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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $47,500 | $47,500 | $13,900 |
| Mathematics | $46,100 | $46,100 | N/A |
| Accounting and Related Services | $38,800 | $38,800 | $11,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $37,200 | $37,200 | $9,500 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $33,800 | $33,800 | $12,031 |
| Sociology | $33,100 | $33,100 | $11,000 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $29,200 | $29,200 | $8,824 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $28,500 | $28,500 | $13,250 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $27,900 | $27,900 | $11,687 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $27,700 | $27,700 | $9,550 |
| Psychology, General | $27,700 | $27,700 | $12,877 |
| Biology, General | $26,600 | $26,600 | $11,150 |
| Political Science and Government | $26,100 | $26,100 | N/A |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $25,400 | $25,400 | $15,625 |
| Journalism | $23,800 | $23,800 | N/A |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $22,700 | $22,700 | $14,656 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $22,600 | $22,600 | $13,790 |
| Philosophy | $21,900 | $21,900 | N/A |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | $21,600 | $21,600 | $13,503 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $18,800 | $18,800 | N/A |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $16,600 | $16,600 | N/A |
| Chemistry | $11,100 | $11,100 | N/A |
Similar Colleges in NY
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Brooklyn, NY
- Student Body
- 10,543 students
- Admission Rate
- 58%
- Graduation Rate
- 55%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $3,103
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $60,752
- Median Student Debt
- $11,000