CUNY York College — ROI, Cost & Payback
CUNY York College charges a net price of $4,456/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $17,824. Graduates earn a median $56,945 ten years after entry, $8,585/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 2.1 years — a 20-year net return of $153,876, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
CUNY York College's 2.1-year payback ranks #85 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 93% of them, and #18 of 203 in New York.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $4,456/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $17,824 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $56,945 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $8,585/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $11,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 2.1 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $153,876 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on CUNY York College's own numbers. Net price $4,456 × 4 years = $17,824 total. Median earnings $56,945 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $8,585 a year of premium. $17,824 ÷ $8,585 = 2.1 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $153,876. 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 York College students graduate with?
A median $11,000 in federal loans among completers, or 19% of the $56,945 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of CUNY York College students graduate?
32% finish their degree — 68% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $17,824 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $55,700 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is CUNY York College expensive compared with other New York colleges?
Its $4,456 net price runs $14,457 below the $18,913 median across the 203 New York colleges we profile, and $57,828 less across the full degree.