CUNY Bernard M Baruch College vs CUNY City College: which has better ROI?
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $12,132 in 0.4 years versus 0.9 years at CUNY City College, on median earnings of $75,971 vs $66,039 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | CUNY City College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $3,033 | $3,776 |
| Total net cost | $12,132 | $15,104 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $75,971 | $66,039 |
| Median debt | $11,512 | $11,990 |
| Payback | 0.4 yrs | 0.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $540,088 | $338,476 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, CUNY Bernard M Baruch College or CUNY City College?
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College, at $3,033 a year after aid versus $3,776 — a gap of $743 a year, or $2,972 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do CUNY Bernard M Baruch College or CUNY City College graduates earn more?
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College graduates report a median $75,971 ten years after entry, $9,932 more than the $66,039 at CUNY City College. 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, CUNY Bernard M Baruch College or CUNY City College?
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College: its completers carry a median $11,512 in federal loans versus $11,990 at CUNY City College, a difference of $478. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
72% of students finish at CUNY Bernard M Baruch College, against 57% at CUNY City College. 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.