CUNY Lehman College — ROI, Cost & Payback
CUNY Lehman College charges a net price of $3,148/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $12,592. Graduates earn a median $58,013 ten years after entry, $9,653/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 1.3 years — a 20-year net return of $180,468, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
CUNY Lehman College's 1.3-year payback ranks #22 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 98% of them, and #8 of 203 in New York.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $3,148/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $12,592 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $58,013 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $9,653/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $10,950 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 1.3 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $180,468 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on CUNY Lehman College's own numbers. Net price $3,148 × 4 years = $12,592 total. Median earnings $58,013 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $9,653 a year of premium. $12,592 ÷ $9,653 = 1.3 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $180,468. 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 Lehman College students graduate with?
A median $10,950 in federal loans among completers, or 19% of the $58,013 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of CUNY Lehman College students graduate?
51% finish their degree — 49% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $12,592 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $24,690 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is CUNY Lehman College expensive compared with other New York colleges?
Its $3,148 net price runs $15,765 below the $18,913 median across the 203 New York colleges we profile, and $63,060 less across the full degree.