Head-to-head comparison
CUNY City College vs United States Merchant Marine Academy: which has better ROI?
Option A New York, NY
CUNY City College
- Net price / year
- $3,776
- Earnings, 10 years
- $66,039
- Payback
- 0.9 yrs
Option B Kings Point, NY
United States Merchant Marine Academy
- Net price / year
- $6,174
- Earnings, 10 years
- $90,610
- Payback
- 0.6 yrs
United States Merchant Marine Academy has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $24,696 in 0.6 years versus 0.9 years at CUNY City College, on median earnings of $90,610 vs $66,039 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | CUNY City College | United States Merchant Marine Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $3,776 | $6,174 |
| Total net cost | $15,104 | $24,696 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $66,039 | $90,610 |
| Median debt | $11,990 | $8,833 |
| Payback | 0.9 yrs | 0.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $338,476 | $820,304 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, CUNY City College or United States Merchant Marine Academy?
CUNY City College, at $3,776 a year after aid versus $6,174 — a gap of $2,398 a year, or $9,592 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 City College or United States Merchant Marine Academy graduates earn more?
United States Merchant Marine Academy graduates report a median $90,610 ten years after entry, $24,571 more than the $66,039 at CUNY City 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 City College or United States Merchant Marine Academy?
United States Merchant Marine Academy: its completers carry a median $8,833 in federal loans versus $11,990 at CUNY City College, a difference of $3,157. 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?
82% of students finish at United States Merchant Marine Academy, against 57% at CUNY City 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.