Degree Dividend
Sourced from federal dataEvery figure datedNo rankings for sale

CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College vs Apex Technical School: which has better ROI?

Public, New York NY · vs · Private nonprofit, Long Island City NY

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College comes closer — median earnings $42,306 against a $9,952 total, vs $41,093 at Apex Technical School. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

Share
Head to head
MeasureCUNY Borough of Manhattan Community CollegeApex Technical School
Net price / yr$4,976$14,826
Total net cost$9,952$59,304
Median earnings, 10 yrs$42,306$41,093
Median debt$7,574$9,500
Payback
20-year net return-$131,032-$204,644

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College or Apex Technical School?

CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College, at $4,976 a year after aid versus $14,826 — a gap of $9,850 a year, or $49,352 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 Borough of Manhattan Community College or Apex Technical School graduates earn more?

CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College graduates report a median $42,306 ten years after entry, $1,213 more than the $41,093 at Apex Technical School. 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 Borough of Manhattan Community College or Apex Technical School?

CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College: its completers carry a median $7,574 in federal loans versus $9,500 at Apex Technical School, a difference of $1,926. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

78% of students finish at Apex Technical School, against 25% at CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community 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.

CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College vs Apex Technical School: frequently asked questions

Is CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College or Apex Technical School a better value?
CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College or Apex Technical School?
CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College: $4,976/yr net price after aid versus $14,826/yr at Apex Technical School — a difference of $9,850 a year, or about $49,352 over four years.
Do CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College or Apex Technical School graduates earn more?
CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College graduates earn a median $42,306 ten years after entry, versus $41,093 at Apex Technical School — a $1,213 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.