Head-to-head comparison
CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College vs CUNY Bernard M Baruch College: which has better ROI?
Option A New York, NY
CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College
- Net price / year
- $4,976
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,306
- Payback
- No payback
Option B New York, NY
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
- Net price / year
- $3,033
- Earnings, 10 years
- $75,971
- Payback
- 0.4 yrs
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $12,132 in 0.4 years versus not at all at CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College, on median earnings of $75,971 vs $42,306 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,976 | $3,033 |
| Total net cost | $9,952 | $12,132 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,306 | $75,971 |
| Median debt | $7,574 | $11,512 |
| Payback | — | 0.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$131,032 | $540,088 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College or CUNY Bernard M Baruch College?
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College, at $3,033 a year after aid versus $4,976 — a gap of $1,943 a year, or $2,180 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College or CUNY Bernard M Baruch College graduates earn more?
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College graduates report a median $75,971 ten years after entry, $33,665 more than the $42,306 at CUNY Borough of Manhattan 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College or CUNY Bernard M Baruch College?
CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College: its completers carry a median $7,574 in federal loans versus $11,512 at CUNY Bernard M Baruch College, a difference of $3,938. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
72% of students finish at CUNY Bernard M Baruch College, against 25% at CUNY Borough of Manhattan 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.