CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College vs CUNY Hunter College: which has better ROI?
CUNY Hunter College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $11,936 in 0.8 years versus not at all at CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College, on median earnings of $63,163 vs $42,306 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College | CUNY Hunter College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,976 | $2,984 |
| Total net cost | $9,952 | $11,936 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,306 | $63,163 |
| Median debt | $7,574 | $11,000 |
| Payback | — | 0.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$131,032 | $284,124 |
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 CUNY Hunter College?
CUNY Hunter College, at $2,984 a year after aid versus $4,976 — a gap of $1,992 a year, or $1,984 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 CUNY Hunter College graduates earn more?
CUNY Hunter College graduates report a median $63,163 ten years after entry, $20,857 more than the $42,306 at CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community 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 Borough of Manhattan Community College or CUNY Hunter College?
CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College: its completers carry a median $7,574 in federal loans versus $11,000 at CUNY Hunter College, a difference of $3,426. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
57% of students finish at CUNY Hunter College, 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.