CUNY Queensborough Community College vs Apex Technical School: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but CUNY Queensborough Community College comes closer — median earnings $44,214 against a $8,916 total, vs $41,093 at Apex Technical School. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | CUNY Queensborough Community College | Apex Technical School |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,458 | $14,826 |
| Total net cost | $8,916 | $59,304 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,214 | $41,093 |
| Median debt | $8,600 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$91,836 | -$204,644 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, CUNY Queensborough Community College or Apex Technical School?
CUNY Queensborough Community College, at $4,458 a year after aid versus $14,826 — a gap of $10,368 a year, or $50,388 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 Queensborough Community College or Apex Technical School graduates earn more?
CUNY Queensborough Community College graduates report a median $44,214 ten years after entry, $3,121 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 Queensborough Community College or Apex Technical School?
CUNY Queensborough Community College: its completers carry a median $8,600 in federal loans versus $9,500 at Apex Technical School, a difference of $900. 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 24% at CUNY Queensborough 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.