CUNY York College
CUNY York College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
CUNY York College at a Glance
York College is a public senior college in Jamaica, Queens, New York City, United States. It is a senior college in the City University of New York (CUNY) system. Founded in 1966, York was the first senior college founded under the newly formed CUNY system, which united several previously independent public colleges into a single public university system in 1961. The college is a member-school of Thurgood Marshall College Fund. The college enrolls more than 6,000 students as of fall 2022.
1966
60 years old
275,000
50 acres
Prestige & value signals
Identity
Is CUNY York College Worth It?
CUNY York College is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $4,456/year net price and $56,945 median earnings, graduates earn 12.8× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.3 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 31% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 3 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 19% of first-year post-graduation earnings.
Bottom line: CUNY York College delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How CUNY York College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #1 of 58 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 York College | 100 | $4,456 | $56,945 |
| #2 | Brazosport College | 100 | $4,732 | $45,910 |
| #3 | Bates Technical College | 86 | $6,292 | $50,051 |
| #4 | Renton Technical College | 76 | $8,296 | $49,782 |
| #5 | Lake Washington Institute of Technology | 71 | $6,817 | $50,669 |
| #6 | Charter Oak State College | 68 | $15,815 | $64,209 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of CUNY York College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 2 in NY.
Best Programs at CUNY York College
The highest-earning program at CUNY York College is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at $81,800/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Marketing at $25,100/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduate from CUNY York College earns $81,800, while a Marketing graduate earns $25,100. 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 $4,456/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 | $81,800 | $81,800 | $8,750 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $68,500 | $68,500 | $13,750 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $39,300 | $39,300 | N/A |
| Sociology | $32,100 | $32,100 | $7,692 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $32,000 | $32,000 | $6,250 |
| Psychology, General | $31,900 | $31,900 | $7,500 |
| Computer Science | $31,100 | $31,100 | N/A |
| Public Health | $30,000 | $30,000 | $11,500 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $27,900 | $27,900 | $7,725 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $27,400 | $27,400 | N/A |
| Marketing | $25,100 | $25,100 | N/A |
Similar Colleges in NY
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Jamaica, NY
- Student Body
- 4,345 students
- Admission Rate
- 64%
- Graduation Rate
- 31%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $4,456
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $56,945
- Median Student Debt
- $11,000