CUNY Lehman College
CUNY Lehman College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
CUNY Lehman College at a Glance
Lehman College is a public college in New York City, United States. Founded in 1931 as the Bronx campus of Hunter College, it became an independent college in 1967. The college is named after Herbert H. Lehman, a former New York governor, United States senator, and philanthropist. It is a senior college of the City University of New York (CUNY) and offers more than 90 undergraduate and graduate degree programs and specializations.
1931
95 years old
$35M
$35 million
13,344
11,638 undergrad · 1,706 grad
37 acres
Identity
Is CUNY Lehman College Worth It?
CUNY Lehman College is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $3,148/year net price and $58,013 median earnings, graduates earn 18.4× 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 50% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 5 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 $10,950 is manageable at just 19% of first-year post-graduation earnings.
Bottom line: CUNY Lehman College delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How CUNY Lehman College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in NY
Ranked #1 of 40 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 Lehman College | 100 | $3,148 | $58,013 |
| #2 | Foothill College | 100 | $7,653 | $57,072 |
| #3 | Skyline College | 100 | $1,738 | $55,702 |
| #4 | Cypress College | 86 | $4,606 | $43,533 |
| #5 | Solano Community College | 83 | $4,669 | $44,170 |
| #6 | Fashion Institute of Technology | 67 | $19,095 | $62,696 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of CUNY Lehman College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 3 in NY.
Best Programs at CUNY Lehman College
The highest-earning program at CUNY Lehman College is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at $84,600/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Fine and Studio Arts at $21,600/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduate from CUNY Lehman College earns $84,600, while a Fine and Studio Arts graduate earns $21,600. 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 $3,148/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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $84,600 | $84,600 | $12,500 |
| Computer Science | $45,100 | $45,100 | $8,112 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $41,000 | $41,000 | $10,437 |
| Information Science/Studies | $40,100 | $40,100 | $12,500 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $36,700 | $36,700 | $12,746 |
| Social Work | $36,100 | $36,100 | $11,400 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $35,700 | $35,700 | $9,073 |
| Economics | $34,400 | $34,400 | N/A |
| Communication Disorders Sciences and Services | $33,000 | $33,000 | $12,000 |
| Anthropology | $32,900 | $32,900 | $10,500 |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | $32,300 | $32,300 | $11,000 |
| Sociology | $31,900 | $31,900 | $8,667 |
| Public Health | $31,700 | $31,700 | $18,846 |
| Psychology, General | $31,300 | $31,300 | $8,916 |
| Political Science and Government | $31,100 | $31,100 | $12,987 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $26,500 | $26,500 | $8,191 |
| Journalism | $25,300 | $25,300 | N/A |
| Communication and Media Studies | $24,800 | $24,800 | $9,750 |
| Biology, General | $24,700 | $24,700 | $10,120 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $21,600 | $21,600 | N/A |
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Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Bronx, NY
- Student Body
- 10,696 students
- Admission Rate
- 57%
- Graduation Rate
- 50%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $3,148
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $58,013
- Median Student Debt
- $10,950