College of Staten Island CUNY vs Wagner College: which has better ROI?
Wagner College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $112,964 in 4.3 years versus 4.3 years at College of Staten Island CUNY, on median earnings of $74,360 vs $53,501 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | College of Staten Island CUNY | Wagner College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,579 | $28,241 |
| Total net cost | $22,316 | $112,964 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $53,501 | $74,360 |
| Median debt | $14,350 | $25,000 |
| Payback | 4.3 yrs | 4.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $80,504 | $407,036 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, College of Staten Island CUNY or Wagner College?
College of Staten Island CUNY, at $5,579 a year after aid versus $28,241 — a gap of $22,662 a year, or $90,648 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do College of Staten Island CUNY or Wagner College graduates earn more?
Wagner College graduates report a median $74,360 ten years after entry, $20,859 more than the $53,501 at College of Staten Island CUNY. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, College of Staten Island CUNY or Wagner College?
College of Staten Island CUNY: its completers carry a median $14,350 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Wagner College, a difference of $10,650. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
65% of students finish at Wagner College, against 34% at College of Staten Island CUNY. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.