CUNY City College
CUNY City College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
CUNY City College at a Glance
The City College of the City University of New York is a public research university within the City University of New York (CUNY) system in New York City. Founded in 1847, City College was the first free public institution of higher education in the United States, although in modern times it charges tuition. It is the oldest of CUNY's 26 institutions of higher learning and is considered its flagship institution.
1847
179 years old
$290M
$290 million (2019)
14,489
275,000 undergrad · 3,048 grad
581
35 acres
Prestige & value signals
Identity
Is CUNY City College Worth It?
CUNY City College is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $3,776/year net price and $66,039 median earnings, graduates earn 17.5× 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 56% 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 $11,990 is manageable at just 18% of first-year post-graduation earnings.
Bottom line: CUNY City College delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How CUNY City College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in NY
Ranked #1 of 19 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 City College | 100 | $3,776 | $66,039 |
| #2 | Foothill College | 100 | $7,653 | $57,072 |
| #3 | Skyline College | 100 | $1,738 | $55,702 |
| #4 | CUNY Hunter College | 100 | $2,984 | $63,163 |
| #5 | University of California-Santa Cruz | 71 | $17,890 | $68,396 |
| #6 | Fashion Institute of Technology | 67 | $19,095 | $62,696 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of CUNY City 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 City College
The highest-earning program at CUNY City College is Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions at $113,400/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at $14,900/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions graduate from CUNY City College earns $113,400, while a Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft graduate earns $14,900. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions graduates carry $24,866 in median debt vs. $11,000 for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $3,776/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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $113,400 | $113,400 | $24,866 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $64,300 | $64,300 | $18,479 |
| Civil Engineering | $61,300 | $61,300 | $12,500 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $54,500 | $54,500 | $16,500 |
| Computer Engineering | $52,800 | $52,800 | N/A |
| Computer Science | $50,500 | $50,500 | N/A |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $37,300 | $37,300 | $14,000 |
| Chemical Engineering | $36,800 | $36,800 | N/A |
| Communication and Media Studies | $35,900 | $35,900 | $7,500 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $34,200 | $34,200 | $9,611 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $34,100 | $34,100 | $12,782 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $33,700 | $33,700 | $13,375 |
| Sociology | $32,900 | $32,900 | $13,500 |
| Economics | $32,400 | $32,400 | $12,248 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $31,400 | $31,400 | N/A |
| Psychology, General | $30,400 | $30,400 | $10,300 |
| Political Science and Government | $30,000 | $30,000 | $13,250 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $29,600 | $29,600 | $12,636 |
| Applied Mathematics | $29,100 | $29,100 | $10,726 |
| History | $27,500 | $27,500 | $14,728 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $26,700 | $26,700 | $14,427 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $24,500 | $24,500 | N/A |
| Biology, General | $23,600 | $23,600 | $15,086 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $22,700 | $22,700 | $12,500 |
| Music | $18,600 | $18,600 | $14,986 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $17,000 | $17,000 | N/A |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $14,900 | $14,900 | $11,000 |
Similar Colleges in NY
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- New York, NY
- Student Body
- 12,505 students
- Admission Rate
- 60%
- Graduation Rate
- 56%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $3,776
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $66,039
- Median Student Debt
- $11,990