College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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CUNY Hunter College

New York, NY 16,289 Undergrads 57.9% Grad Rate
Share
Total Cost
$13,905
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$2,984
After Aid
Median Earnings
$73,236
4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$2,984
Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5
Earnings (10yr)$73,236
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Graduation Rate57.9%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients57.9%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time81.8%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS70.3%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
53.8%
SAT Avg
1,280
SAT Reading
25th: 550-75th: 700
SAT Math
25th: 550-75th: 720
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

ROI Sensitivity Analysis

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
+$632k
+$172k
+$154k
Median Cost$3k/yr
+$621k
+$161k
+$143k
Full Cost$14k/yr
+$582k
+$122k
+$104k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
29
Median Cost$3k/yr
30
1336%
Full Cost$14k/yr
35
208%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year 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 Return484%

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 Return96%
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 with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Certificates

Community Organization and Advocacy
CertCIP: 4402
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $48,126
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Administration
CertCIP: 4404
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $64,764
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$12,969
Earnings (4yr)
$75,803
Nat: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$154k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$8,772
Earnings (4yr)
$51,787
Nat: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
Archeology
BachCIP: 4503
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $41,748
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biological and Physical Sciences
BachCIP: 3001
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,406
Nat: $58,891
Lifetime Value Added
+$59k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$59,204
Nat: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$25k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$9,000
Earnings (4yr)
$54,699
Nat: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1612
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$26,353
Nat: $49,429
Lifetime Value Added
-$237k
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$104,791
Nat: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
+$371k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$10,875
Earnings (4yr)
$55,182
Nat: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$7k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$9,553
Earnings (4yr)
$102,321
Nat: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$352k
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$21,964
Nat: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
-$277k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$16,015
Nat: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$333k
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1603
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$53,509
Nat: $51,642
Lifetime Value Added
-$21k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$10,101
Earnings (4yr)
$69,920
Nat: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$109k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$13,533
Earnings (4yr)
$55,759
Nat: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$3k
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies
BachCIP: 0502
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$51,569
Nat: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
-$37k
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
BachCIP: 5006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$46,545
Nat: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$79k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$10,300
Earnings (4yr)
$56,160
Nat: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
+$762
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1905
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,864
Nat: $54,945
Lifetime Value Added
+$31k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$19,227
Nat: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
-$303k
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1605
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $55,459
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (4yr)
$58,253
Nat: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
+$18k
Human Biology
BachCIP: 3027
Median Debt
$11,250
Earnings (4yr)
$83,420
Nat: $64,732
Lifetime Value Added
+$211k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
BachCIP: 1601
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$80,308
Nat: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$188k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$39,600
Nat: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$137k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$31,839
Nat: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$187k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$49,583
Nat: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
-$53k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$13,391
Earnings (4yr)
$62,040
Nat: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$48k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$11,386
Earnings (4yr)
$59,149
Nat: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
+$25k
Public Health
BachCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$63,884
Nat: $58,808
Lifetime Value Added
+$63k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$116,361
Nat: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$457k
Religion/Religious Studies
BachCIP: 3802
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $41,390
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$34,847
Nat: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$160k
Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1604
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $62,169
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$70,273
Nat: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
+$112k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$10,245
Earnings (4yr)
$57,965
Nat: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
+$15k
Statistics
BachCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $92,425
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$13,920
Earnings (4yr)
$73,857
Nat: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
+$139k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$15,504
Earnings (4yr)
$72,919
Nat: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$132k
Urban Studies/Affairs
BachCIP: 4512
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $62,532
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
PB-CertCIP: 5110
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $66,018
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language
PB-CertCIP: 1314
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$86,867
Nat: $62,752
Lifetime Value Added
+$447k

Master's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$98,103
Nat: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$420k
Anthropology
MastCIP: 4502
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $61,276
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biotechnology
MastCIP: 2612
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $107,682
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$67,660
Nat: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
+$194k
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
MastCIP: 5110
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $90,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Communication and Media Studies
MastCIP: 0901
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$91,520
Nat: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
+$364k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
MastCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $49,978
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
MastCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $100,743
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$23,186
Earnings (4yr)
$131,961
Nat: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
+$709k
Fine and Studio Arts
MastCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$55,875
Earnings (4yr)
$48,258
Nat: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
-$22k
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services
MastCIP: 1905
Median Debt
$33,795
Earnings (4yr)
$75,480
Nat: $66,523
Lifetime Value Added
+$226k
Geography and Cartography
MastCIP: 4507
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $79,784
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Literature
MastCIP: 2314
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $55,337
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
MastCIP: 5115
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$71,978
Nat: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
+$196k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Public Health
MastCIP: 5122
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$64,629
Lifetime Value Added
+$166k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$142,731
Nat: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$800k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
MastCIP: 5123
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$69,161
Nat: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
+$171k
Research and Experimental Psychology
MastCIP: 4227
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $63,216
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
MastCIP: 2313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,193
Nat: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
-$66k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
MastCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $60,728
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (4yr)
$76,071
Nat: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
+$231k
Sociology
MastCIP: 4511
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $63,330
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$30,530
Earnings (4yr)
$88,978
Nat: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
+$342k
Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $123,816
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$37,190
Earnings (4yr)
$81,233
Nat: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
+$275k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$25,523
Earnings (4yr)
$77,067
Nat: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
+$239k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$24,573
Earnings (4yr)
$79,416
Nat: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
+$260k
Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language
MastCIP: 1314
Median Debt
$25,625
Earnings (4yr)
$84,459
Nat: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
+$303k
Urban Studies/Affairs
MastCIP: 4512
Median Debt
$28,918
Earnings (4yr)
$89,866
Nat: $79,634
Lifetime Value Added
+$350k

Graduate Certificates

Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education
Gr-CertCIP: 1302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$81,702
Nat: $77,692
Lifetime Value Added
+$396k
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
Gr-CertCIP: 5110
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $46,413
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Educational Administration and Supervision
Gr-CertCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$111,673
Nat: $86,288
Lifetime Value Added
+$692k
Geography and Cartography
Gr-CertCIP: 4507
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $72,959
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
Gr-CertCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $126,911
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Research and Experimental Psychology
Gr-CertCIP: 4227
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$67,660
Nat: $64,095
Lifetime Value Added
+$257k
Special Education and Teaching
Gr-CertCIP: 1310
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$67,101
Nat: $69,147
Lifetime Value Added
+$251k

Doctoral Degrees

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
DocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
DocCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$54,600
Earnings (4yr)
$93,750
Nat: $82,893
Lifetime Value Added
+$242k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
DocCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings
-
Nat: $85,168
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, 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 degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.