CUNY Queens College

Queens, NY 12,550 Undergrads 56.1% Grad Rate

School Website|Financial Calculator

Total Cost

$14,367

Sticker Price

Avg Net Price

$4,195

After Aid

Median Earnings

$68,713

4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$4,195

Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5

Earnings (10yr)$68,713

Peer Midpoint: $60,428

Graduation Rate56.1%

Peer Midpoint: 58.9%

Socio-Economic Diversity

Pell Grant Recipients50.7%

Enrollment Status

Full-Time79.0%

Economic Outcomes

Earn More than HS69.2%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance

64.3%

SAT Avg

1,120

SAT Reading

25th: 500-75th: 650

SAT Math

25th: 510-75th: 640

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

+$597k

+$137k

+$120k

Median Cost$4k/yr

+$582k

+$122k

+$105k

Full Cost$14k/yr

+$546k

+$86k

+$68k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age

Return on Inv. %

Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0

∞

Median Cost$4k/yr

694%

Full Cost$14k/yr

132%

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 Return342%

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 Return55%

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

Bachelor's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services

BachCIP: 5203

Median Debt

$10,822

Earnings (4yr)

$69,956

Nat: $76,194

Lifetime Value Added

+$105k

Anthropology

BachCIP: 4502

Median Debt

$13,421

Earnings (2yr)

$28,598

Nat: $46,676

Lifetime Value Added

-$221k

Area Studies

BachCIP: 0501

Median Debt

Earnings

Nat: $56,625

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Biology, General

BachCIP: 2601

Median Debt

$15,000

Earnings (4yr)

$64,303

Nat: $57,214

Lifetime Value Added

+$62k

Chemistry

BachCIP: 4005

Median Debt

Earnings

Nat: $65,120

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

BachCIP: 1612

Median Debt

Earnings

Nat: $49,429

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Communication and Media Studies

BachCIP: 0901

Median Debt

$12,500

Earnings (4yr)

$61,501

Nat: $56,359

Lifetime Value Added

+$39k

Communication Disorders Sciences and Services

BachCIP: 5102

Median Debt

$11,000

Earnings (4yr)

$78,281

Nat: $58,928

Lifetime Value Added

+$168k

Computer Science

BachCIP: 1107

Median Debt

$10,301

Earnings (4yr)

$112,903

Nat: $107,009

Lifetime Value Added

+$427k

Design and Applied Arts

BachCIP: 5004

Median Debt

$14,250

Earnings (4yr)

$44,835

Nat: $51,490

Lifetime Value Added

-$97k

Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services

BachCIP: 5131

Median Debt

$12,684

Earnings (4yr)

$59,655

Nat: $55,753

Lifetime Value Added

+$25k

Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft

BachCIP: 5005

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$31,239

Nat: $39,775

Lifetime Value Added

-$213k

East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

BachCIP: 1603

Median Debt

Earnings (2yr)

$20,140

Nat: $51,642

Lifetime Value Added

-$299k

Economics

BachCIP: 4506

Median Debt

$7,295

Earnings (4yr)

$65,049

Nat: $82,686

Lifetime Value Added

+$67k

English Language and Literature, General

BachCIP: 2301

Median Debt

$7,000

Earnings (4yr)

$50,194

Nat: $48,590

Lifetime Value Added

-$53k

Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies

BachCIP: 0502

Median Debt

Earnings

Nat: $51,710

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences, General

BachCIP: 1901

Median Debt

$10,750

Earnings (4yr)

$49,054

Nat: $48,460

Lifetime Value Added

-$62k

Film/Video and Photographic Arts

BachCIP: 5006

Median Debt

Earnings

Nat: $43,765

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Finance and Financial Management Services

BachCIP: 5208

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$94,526

Nat: $83,343

Lifetime Value Added

+$290k

Fine and Studio Arts

BachCIP: 5007

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$37,764

Nat: $41,367

Lifetime Value Added

-$157k

Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences

BachCIP: 4006

Median Debt

Earnings

Nat: $60,190

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

History

BachCIP: 5401

Median Debt

$12,500

Earnings (4yr)

$52,406

Nat: $50,680

Lifetime Value Added

-$34k

Human Resources Management and Services

BachCIP: 5210

Median Debt

Earnings

Nat: $68,069

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

International Business

BachCIP: 5211

Median Debt

Earnings (2yr)

$38,289

Nat: $73,201

Lifetime Value Added

-$133k

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 (2yr)

$26,896

Nat: $49,984

Lifetime Value Added

-$236k

Mathematics

BachCIP: 2701

Median Debt

$8,298

Earnings (4yr)

$74,659

Nat: $69,562

Lifetime Value Added

+$141k

Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

BachCIP: 1611

Median Debt

Earnings

Nat: $67,612

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General

BachCIP: 3000

Median Debt

Earnings

Nat: $50,532

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Music

BachCIP: 5009

Median Debt

Earnings

Nat: $42,892

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Natural Resources Conservation and Research

BachCIP: 0301

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$65,863

Nat: $55,012

Lifetime Value Added

+$74k

Philosophy

BachCIP: 3801

Median Debt

Earnings

Nat: $54,455

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Physics

BachCIP: 4008

Median Debt

Earnings

Nat: $76,786

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Political Science and Government

BachCIP: 4510

Median Debt

$10,457

Earnings (4yr)

$65,213

Nat: $63,293

Lifetime Value Added

+$69k

Psychology, General

BachCIP: 4201

Median Debt

$9,623

Earnings (4yr)

$57,210

Nat: $50,706

Lifetime Value Added

+$5k

Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

BachCIP: 1609

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$64,185

Nat: $55,000

Lifetime Value Added

+$61k

Sociology

BachCIP: 4511

Median Debt

$12,397

Earnings (4yr)

$56,550

Nat: $52,657

Lifetime Value Added

-$425

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness

BachCIP: 3105

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$62,602

Nat: $54,562

Lifetime Value Added

+$48k

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods

BachCIP: 1312

Median Debt

$11,000

Earnings (4yr)

$67,221

Nat: $47,382

Lifetime Value Added

+$84k

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas

BachCIP: 1313

Median Debt

$15,178

Earnings (4yr)

$76,925

Nat: $51,389

Lifetime Value Added

+$158k

Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language

BachCIP: 1314

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$79,175

Nat: $42,259

Lifetime Value Added

+$175k

Urban Studies/Affairs

BachCIP: 4512

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$74,979

Nat: $62,532

Lifetime Value Added

+$143k

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Music

PB-CertCIP: 5009

Median Debt

Earnings

Nat: $45,232

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas

PB-CertCIP: 1313

Median Debt

Earnings

Nat: $60,439

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Master's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services

MastCIP: 5203

Median Debt

$14,925

Earnings (4yr)

$93,857

Nat: $95,833

Lifetime Value Added

+$382k

Biology, General

MastCIP: 2601

Median Debt

Earnings

Nat: $69,830

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology

MastCIP: 4228

Median Debt

$33,941

Earnings (4yr)

$86,240

Nat: $65,184

Lifetime Value Added

+$316k

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

Earnings (4yr)

$83,444

Nat: $67,030

Lifetime Value Added

+$292k

Computer Science

MastCIP: 1107

Median Debt

Earnings

Nat: $145,571

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

English Language and Literature, General

MastCIP: 2301

Median Debt

Earnings

Nat: $55,512

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Finance and Financial Management Services

MastCIP: 5208

Median Debt

Earnings

Nat: $110,694

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Fine and Studio Arts

MastCIP: 5007

Median Debt

Earnings

Nat: $49,079

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences

MastCIP: 4006

Median Debt

Earnings

Nat: $79,463

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

History

MastCIP: 5401

Median Debt

Earnings

Nat: $55,360

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Library Science and Administration

MastCIP: 2501

Median Debt

$17,509

Earnings (4yr)

$70,373

Nat: $56,301

Lifetime Value Added

+$179k

Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services

MastCIP: 1601

Median Debt

Earnings

Nat: $58,093

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods

MastCIP: 5213

Median Debt

Earnings

Nat: $124,807

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

$30,000

Earnings (4yr)

$62,513

Nat: $59,571

Lifetime Value Added

+$109k

Music

MastCIP: 5009

Median Debt

Earnings (2yr)

$29,685

Nat: $48,285

Lifetime Value Added

-$188k

Neurobiology and Neurosciences

MastCIP: 2615

Median Debt

Earnings

Nat: $73,229

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Physics

MastCIP: 4008

Median Debt

Earnings

Nat: $96,478

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Psychology, General

MastCIP: 4201

Median Debt

Earnings

Nat: $64,711

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies

MastCIP: 2313

Median Debt

Earnings

Nat: $55,035

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

MastCIP: 1609

Median Debt

Earnings

Nat: $60,728

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Special Education and Teaching

MastCIP: 1310

Median Debt

$21,433

Earnings (4yr)

$85,359

Nat: $64,397

Lifetime Value Added

+$309k

Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness

MastCIP: 3105

Median Debt

Earnings

Nat: $62,033

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Statistics

MastCIP: 2705

Median Debt

Earnings

Nat: $123,816

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Student Counseling and Personnel Services

MastCIP: 1311

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$79,953

Nat: $60,111

Lifetime Value Added

+$262k

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods

MastCIP: 1312

Median Debt

$19,033

Earnings (4yr)

$77,925

Nat: $59,916

Lifetime Value Added

+$245k

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas

MastCIP: 1313

Median Debt

$19,100

Earnings (4yr)

$87,964

Nat: $63,707

Lifetime Value Added

+$331k

Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language

MastCIP: 1314

Median Debt

$19,526

Earnings (4yr)

$87,317

Nat: $65,767

Lifetime Value Added

+$325k

Urban Studies/Affairs

MastCIP: 4512

Median Debt

$27,792

Earnings (4yr)

$89,294

Nat: $79,634

Lifetime Value Added

+$342k

Graduate Certificates

Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education

Gr-CertCIP: 1302

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$109,328

Nat: $77,692

Lifetime Value Added

+$606k

Educational Administration and Supervision

Gr-CertCIP: 1304

Median Debt

Earnings (2yr)

$107,163

Nat: $86,288

Lifetime Value Added

+$646k

Special Education and Teaching

Gr-CertCIP: 1310

Median Debt

Earnings

Nat: $69,147

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods

Gr-CertCIP: 1312

Median Debt

Earnings (2yr)

$43,128

Lifetime Value Added

-$4k

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas

Gr-CertCIP: 1313

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$84,899

Nat: $69,444

Lifetime Value Added

+$378k

Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language

Gr-CertCIP: 1314

Median Debt

Earnings (2yr)

$71,015

Lifetime Value Added

+$289k

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.