Head-to-head comparison
CUNY Queens College vs Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences: which has better ROI?
Option A Queens, NY
CUNY Queens College
- Net price / year
- $4,195
- Earnings, 10 years
- $62,763
- Payback
- 1.2 yrs
Option B Albany, NY
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
- Net price / year
- $29,882
- Earnings, 10 years
- $131,426
- Payback
- 1.4 yrs
CUNY Queens College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $16,780 in 1.2 years versus 1.4 years at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, on median earnings of $62,763 vs $131,426 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | CUNY Queens College | Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,195 | $29,882 |
| Total net cost | $16,780 | $119,528 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $62,763 | $131,426 |
| Median debt | $10,298 | $25,500 |
| Payback | 1.2 yrs | 1.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $271,280 | $1,541,792 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, CUNY Queens College or Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences?
CUNY Queens College, at $4,195 a year after aid versus $29,882 — a gap of $25,687 a year, or $102,748 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 Queens College or Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences graduates earn more?
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences graduates report a median $131,426 ten years after entry, $68,663 more than the $62,763 at CUNY Queens 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 Queens College or Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences?
CUNY Queens College: its completers carry a median $10,298 in federal loans versus $25,500 at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, a difference of $15,202. 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?
68% of students finish at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, against 53% at CUNY Queens 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.