CUNY Kingsborough Community College vs Pratt Institute-Main: which has better ROI?
Pratt Institute-Main has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $210,636 in 35.5 years versus not at all at CUNY Kingsborough Community College, on median earnings of $54,295 vs $42,621 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | CUNY Kingsborough Community College | Pratt Institute-Main |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,606 | $52,659 |
| Total net cost | $11,212 | $210,636 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,621 | $54,295 |
| Median debt | $7,100 | $26,000 |
| Payback | — | 35.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$125,992 | -$91,936 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, CUNY Kingsborough Community College or Pratt Institute-Main?
CUNY Kingsborough Community College, at $5,606 a year after aid versus $52,659 — a gap of $47,053 a year, or $199,424 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 Kingsborough Community College or Pratt Institute-Main graduates earn more?
Pratt Institute-Main graduates report a median $54,295 ten years after entry, $11,674 more than the $42,621 at CUNY Kingsborough 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 Kingsborough Community College or Pratt Institute-Main?
CUNY Kingsborough Community College: its completers carry a median $7,100 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Pratt Institute-Main, a difference of $18,900. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
74% of students finish at Pratt Institute-Main, against 28% at CUNY Kingsborough 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.