College ROI

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CUNY City College

New York, NY 12,505 Undergrads 58.4% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$14,403
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$3,776
After Aid
Median Earnings
$67,740
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$3,776
Peer Midpoint: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$67,740
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$66,039
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate58.4%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age22.7
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients62.3%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time82.6%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS68.3%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
60.0%
SAT Avg
1,260
SAT Reading
25th: 540-75th: 700
SAT Math
25th: 530-75th: 730
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

ROI Sensitivity Analysis
Assuming 4 Years to Graduation

This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.

Lifetime Value Added (NPV)

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$597k
+$130k
+$112k
Median Cost$4k/yr
+$583k
+$116k
+$99k
Full Cost$14k/yr
+$545k
+$78k
+$60k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
31
∞
Median Cost$4k/yr
33
725%
Full Cost$14k/yr
40
116%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
  • Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
  • Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
  • NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.

Social Impact ROINew

Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.

Donor Return323%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew

Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.

Taxpayer Return56%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator, or for more sophisticated analysis, the Guided ROI Interview, with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$148,354
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$710k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$32,569
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$182k
Applied Mathematics
BachCIP: 2703
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$66,754
Natl Median: $91,532
Lifetime Value Added
+$91k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$68,614
Natl Median: $55,140
Lifetime Value Added
+$105k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,440
Natl Median: $65,466
Lifetime Value Added
+$57k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$13,382
Earnings (4yr)
$63,206
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$63k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$95,685
Natl Median: $93,451
Lifetime Value Added
+$312k
Biotechnology
BachCIP: 2612
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,097
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$13,632
Earnings (4yr)
$64,414
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$73k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$88,659
Natl Median: $98,158
Lifetime Value Added
+$258k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,194
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
-$250k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$19,529
Earnings (4yr)
$87,957
Natl Median: $86,517
Lifetime Value Added
+$253k
Median Debt
$14,858
Earnings (4yr)
$69,948
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$115k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$117,131
Natl Median: $109,015
Lifetime Value Added
+$475k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$116,238
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$468k
Median Debt
$12,489
Earnings (4yr)
$32,769
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$192k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$6,650
Earnings (4yr)
$67,679
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$98k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$97,698
Natl Median: $100,647
Lifetime Value Added
+$327k
Median Debt
$11,878
Earnings (4yr)
$47,753
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$87,804
Natl Median: $81,171
Lifetime Value Added
+$252k
Median Debt
$20,739
Earnings (4yr)
$48,637
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$46,801
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$71k
Median Debt
$12,994
Earnings (4yr)
$45,656
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$81k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$13,075
Earnings (4yr)
$52,809
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$21k
Median Debt
$14,060
Earnings (4yr)
$59,039
Natl Median: $66,596
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
Median Debt
$12,250
Earnings (4yr)
$58,063
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
+$22k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$73,882
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$146k
Median Debt
$13,232
Earnings (4yr)
$97,270
Natl Median: $92,135
Lifetime Value Added
+$324k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$21,637
Earnings (4yr)
$44,058
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$95k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$59,540
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$34k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$9,000
Earnings (4yr)
$56,223
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
+$7k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$72,068
Natl Median: $50,497
Lifetime Value Added
+$132k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$34,212
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$179k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$10,199
Earnings (4yr)
$55,683
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
+$3k
Median Debt
$9,558
Earnings (4yr)
$55,895
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,439
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$114,977
Earnings (4yr)
$149,434
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
+$662k
Median Debt
$54,500
Earnings (4yr)
$79,051
Natl Median: $77,466
Lifetime Value Added
+$50k
Architecture
MastCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$82,751
Natl Median: $74,139
Lifetime Value Added
+$68k
Area Studies
MastCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,936
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$90,944
Natl Median: $71,241
Lifetime Value Added
+$154k
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $106,375
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,468
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Chemistry
MastCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,937
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,665
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Civil Engineering
MastCIP: 1408
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $98,323
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $136,736
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$115,422
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
+$348k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$73,949
Natl Median: $133,654
Lifetime Value Added
+$31k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$47,282
Natl Median: $51,486
Lifetime Value Added
-$240k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$20,309
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
-$514k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,463
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$84,653
Natl Median: $112,705
Lifetime Value Added
+$129k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,565
Natl Median: $95,627
Lifetime Value Added
-$280k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$72,481
Natl Median: $70,306
Lifetime Value Added
-$8k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,093
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $115,974
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,025
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$285k
Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,478
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$44,971
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
-$245k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$81,813
Natl Median: $81,408
Lifetime Value Added
+$74k
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$81,401
Natl Median: $80,125
Lifetime Value Added
+$70k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$64,449
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,728
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$23,914
Earnings (4yr)
$94,601
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
+$186k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$79,163
Natl Median: $76,897
Lifetime Value Added
+$51k
Median Debt
$27,301
Earnings (4yr)
$79,740
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
+$56k
Median Debt
$20,504
Earnings (4yr)
$86,151
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
+$112k
Median Debt
$19,917
Earnings (4yr)
$85,112
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
+$103k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,460
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $77,692
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,288
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Doctoral Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,848
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $141,187
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $157,305
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $131,070
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Professional Degrees

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,699
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Architecture
ProfCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$73,789
Natl Median: $74,323
Lifetime Value Added
-$125k

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.

For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate decision moving forward. Note that the institution's average undergraduate net price is used as a proxy for annual cost, which may differ from actual graduate tuition. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.

Completers Only: Federal median earnings data strictly reflects outcomes for students who successfully graduated. Students who do not complete their degree typically earn significantly less and face higher risks of debt default.