CUNY York College vs St Paul's School of Nursing-Staten Island: which has better ROI?
St Paul's School of Nursing-Staten Island has the better ROI: it clears its 2-year net cost of $71,332 in 1.9 years versus 2.1 years at CUNY York College, on median earnings of $86,693 vs $56,945 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | CUNY York College | St Paul's School of Nursing-Staten Island |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,456 | $35,666 |
| Total net cost | $17,824 | $71,332 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $56,945 | $86,693 |
| Median debt | $11,000 | $25,729 |
| Payback | 2.1 yrs | 1.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $153,876 | $695,328 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, CUNY York College or St Paul's School of Nursing-Staten Island?
CUNY York College, at $4,456 a year after aid versus $35,666 — a gap of $31,210 a year, or $53,508 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 York College or St Paul's School of Nursing-Staten Island graduates earn more?
St Paul's School of Nursing-Staten Island graduates report a median $86,693 ten years after entry, $29,748 more than the $56,945 at CUNY York 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 York College or St Paul's School of Nursing-Staten Island?
CUNY York College: its completers carry a median $11,000 in federal loans versus $25,729 at St Paul's School of Nursing-Staten Island, a difference of $14,729. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
46% of students finish at St Paul's School of Nursing-Staten Island, against 32% at CUNY York 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.