CUNY City College — ROI, Cost & Payback
CUNY City College charges a net price of $3,776/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $15,104. Graduates earn a median $66,039 ten years after entry, $17,679/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 0.9 years — a 20-year net return of $338,476, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
CUNY City College's 0.9-year payback ranks #13 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 99% of them, and #4 of 203 in New York.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $3,776/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $15,104 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $66,039 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $17,679/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $11,990 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 0.9 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $338,476 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on CUNY City College's own numbers. Net price $3,776 × 4 years = $15,104 total. Median earnings $66,039 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $17,679 a year of premium. $15,104 ÷ $17,679 = 0.9 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $338,476. 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 CUNY City College students graduate with?
A median $11,990 in federal loans among completers, or 18% of the $66,039 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of CUNY City College students graduate?
57% finish their degree — 43% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $15,104 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $26,498 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is CUNY City College expensive compared with other New York colleges?
Its $3,776 net price runs $15,137 below the $18,913 median across the 203 New York colleges we profile, and $60,548 less across the full degree.