College of Staten Island CUNY — ROI, Cost & Payback
College of Staten Island CUNY charges a net price of $5,579/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $22,316. Graduates earn a median $53,501 ten years after entry, $5,141/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 4.3 years — a 20-year net return of $80,504, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
College of Staten Island CUNY's 4.3-year payback ranks #327 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 75% of them, and #38 of 203 in New York.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $5,579/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $22,316 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $53,501 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $5,141/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $14,350 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 4.3 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $80,504 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on College of Staten Island CUNY's own numbers. Net price $5,579 × 4 years = $22,316 total. Median earnings $53,501 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $5,141 a year of premium. $22,316 ÷ $5,141 = 4.3 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $80,504. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do College of Staten Island CUNY students graduate with?
A median $14,350 in federal loans among completers, or 27% of the $53,501 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of College of Staten Island CUNY students graduate?
34% finish their degree — 66% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $22,316 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $65,635 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is College of Staten Island CUNY expensive compared with other New York colleges?
Its $5,579 net price runs $13,334 below the $18,913 median across the 203 New York colleges we profile, and $53,336 less across the full degree.