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CUNY Brooklyn College — ROI, Cost & Payback

Public · Brooklyn, NY · 10,543 students

The verdict

CUNY Brooklyn College charges a net price of $3,103/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $12,412. Graduates earn a median $60,752 ten years after entry, $12,392/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 1 years — a 20-year net return of $235,428, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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CUNY Brooklyn College's 1-year payback ranks #16 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 99% of them, and #6 of 203 in New York.

Better ROI than 99% of US colleges#16 of 1,280
Weakest ROIStrongest ROI
$3,103
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$60,752
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
1 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
58%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
CUNY Brooklyn College: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$3,103/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$12,412our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$60,752Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$12,392/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$11,000Scorecard, 2026
Payback1 yrsour math
20-year net return$235,428our math

College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.

How we compute this. Payback = total net cost ÷ annual earnings premium, where the premium is median earnings 10 years after entry minus the $48,360 baseline (BLS 2024 median for a high-school-diploma worker 25+). Total net cost = net price × 4 years. We do not discount future dollars. The institution-wide earnings figure blends every major — a specific program's payback can be far better or worse. Full method on the methodology page.

CUNY Brooklyn College: frequently asked questions

Is CUNY Brooklyn College worth the cost?
On the numbers, yes. CUNY Brooklyn College charges $3,103/yr after aid ($12,412 over 4 years), and graduates earn a median $60,752 ten years out — $12,392/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. That clears the cost in 1 years and returns $235,428 net over 20 years, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast.
How long does a CUNY Brooklyn College degree take to pay off?
About 1 years. We divide the $12,412 four-year net cost by the $12,392/yr earnings premium over the high-school baseline. It is a floor, not a ceiling — mid-career raises pay it back faster.
How much does CUNY Brooklyn College cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $3,103/yr — about $12,412 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does CUNY Brooklyn College compare to other New York colleges?
It ranks #6 of 203 New York colleges we track by payback. Its $60,752 median earnings beat the national median of $43,552, and its $3,103 net price is below the national median of $16,906.