College ROI

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CUNY Queens College

Queens, NY 12,550 Undergrads 56.1% Grad Rate
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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: $20,081
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)Completers only after graduation
$68,713
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Earnings (10yr Post-Enroll)All enrolled after enrollment
$62,763
Peer Midpoint: $53,763
Graduation Rate56.1%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Average Starting Age23.4
Warning: High average starting age indicates non-traditional students with prior work experience, which may inflate the median earnings shown.
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
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)
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$604k
+$137k
+$120k
Median Cost$4k/yr
+$589k
+$122k
+$104k
Full Cost$14k/yr
+$552k
+$85k
+$68k

ROI Efficiency Metrics
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
31
∞
Median Cost$4k/yr
33
692%
Full Cost$14k/yr
39
131%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).⚠️ Warning: The high average starting age or low completion rate may inflate the Median earnings and ROI shown.
  • 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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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 Return351%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

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 Return64%
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
⚠️ Caution: Underlying earnings data reflects graduates only. This institution flagged for high risk factors (low completion/older demographics) that may artificially inflate this ROI.

Bachelor's Degrees

Median Debt
$10,822
Earnings (4yr)
$69,956
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$114k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$13,421
Earnings (5yr)
$56,381
Natl Median: $46,676
Lifetime Value Added
-$2k
Area Studies
BachCIP: 0501
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $56,625
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$15,000
Earnings (4yr)
$64,303
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$70k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,429
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$61,501
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
+$48k
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (4yr)
$78,281
Natl Median: $58,928
Lifetime Value Added
+$178k
Computer Science
BachCIP: 1107
Median Debt
$10,301
Earnings (4yr)
$112,903
Natl Median: $107,009
Lifetime Value Added
+$442k
Median Debt
$14,250
Earnings (4yr)
$44,835
Natl Median: $51,490
Lifetime Value Added
-$89k
Median Debt
$12,684
Earnings (4yr)
$59,655
Natl Median: $55,753
Lifetime Value Added
+$33k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$31,239
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
-$207k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,214
Natl Median: $51,642
Lifetime Value Added
-$94k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$7,295
Earnings (4yr)
$65,049
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$76k
Median Debt
$7,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,194
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $51,710
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$10,750
Earnings (4yr)
$49,054
Natl Median: $48,460
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $43,765
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$94,526
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$302k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$37,764
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$150k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (4yr)
$52,406
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $68,069
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$75,249
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
+$143k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$49,706
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$57k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$8,298
Earnings (4yr)
$74,659
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$150k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $67,612
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $50,532
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$65,863
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
+$83k
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
$10,457
Earnings (4yr)
$65,213
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
+$77k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$9,623
Earnings (4yr)
$57,210
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
+$14k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$64,185
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
+$69k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$12,397
Earnings (4yr)
$56,550
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
+$8k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$62,602
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$57k
Median Debt
$11,000
Earnings (4yr)
$67,221
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
+$93k
Median Debt
$15,178
Earnings (4yr)
$76,925
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
+$167k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$79,175
Natl Median: $42,259
Lifetime Value Added
+$184k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$74,979
Natl Median: $62,532
Lifetime Value Added
+$152k

Post-Baccalaureate Certificates

Music
PB-CertCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $45,232
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,439
Lifetime Value Added
N/A

Master's Degrees

Median Debt
$14,925
Earnings (4yr)
$93,857
Natl Median: $95,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$179k
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$33,941
Earnings (4yr)
$86,240
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
+$112k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,953
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$83,444
Natl Median: $67,030
Lifetime Value Added
+$88k
Computer Science
MastCIP: 1107
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $145,571
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $110,694
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,079
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
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
$17,509
Earnings (4yr)
$70,373
Natl Median: $56,301
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $58,093
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,807
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$30,000
Earnings (4yr)
$62,513
Natl Median: $59,571
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$33,982
Natl Median: $48,285
Lifetime Value Added
-$379k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,229
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
MastCIP: 4008
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $96,478
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Psychology, General
MastCIP: 4201
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $64,711
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,035
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,728
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
$21,433
Earnings (4yr)
$85,359
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
+$104k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
MastCIP: 3105
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,033
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Statistics
MastCIP: 2705
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $123,816
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$79,953
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
+$57k
Median Debt
$19,033
Earnings (4yr)
$77,925
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
+$39k
Median Debt
$19,100
Earnings (4yr)
$87,964
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
+$127k
Median Debt
$19,526
Earnings (4yr)
$87,317
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
+$121k
Median Debt
$27,792
Earnings (4yr)
$89,294
Natl Median: $79,634
Lifetime Value Added
+$139k

Graduate Certificates

Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$109,328
Natl Median: $77,692
Lifetime Value Added
+$407k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$139,670
Natl Median: $86,288
Lifetime Value Added
+$666k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,147
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$70,636
Natl Median: $59,417
Lifetime Value Added
+$26k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$84,899
Natl Median: $69,444
Lifetime Value Added
+$175k
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$71,015
Natl Median: $74,874
Lifetime Value Added
+$70k

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.