CUNY City College vs CUNY Brooklyn College: which has better ROI?
CUNY City College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $15,104 in 0.9 years versus 1 years at CUNY Brooklyn College, on median earnings of $66,039 vs $60,752 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | CUNY City College | CUNY Brooklyn College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $3,776 | $3,103 |
| Total net cost | $15,104 | $12,412 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $66,039 | $60,752 |
| Median debt | $11,990 | $11,000 |
| Payback | 0.9 yrs | 1 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $338,476 | $235,428 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, CUNY City College or CUNY Brooklyn College?
CUNY Brooklyn College, at $3,103 a year after aid versus $3,776 — a gap of $673 a year, or $2,692 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 City College or CUNY Brooklyn College graduates earn more?
CUNY City College graduates report a median $66,039 ten years after entry, $5,287 more than the $60,752 at CUNY Brooklyn 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 City College or CUNY Brooklyn College?
CUNY Brooklyn College: its completers carry a median $11,000 in federal loans versus $11,990 at CUNY City College, a difference of $990. 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 City College, against 54% at CUNY Brooklyn 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.