Head-to-head comparison
CUNY Queens College vs CUNY Brooklyn College: 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 Brooklyn, NY
CUNY Brooklyn College
- Net price / year
- $3,103
- Earnings, 10 years
- $60,752
- Payback
- 1 yrs
CUNY Brooklyn College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $12,412 in 1 years versus 1.2 years at CUNY Queens College, on median earnings of $60,752 vs $62,763 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | CUNY Queens College | CUNY Brooklyn College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,195 | $3,103 |
| Total net cost | $16,780 | $12,412 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $62,763 | $60,752 |
| Median debt | $10,298 | $11,000 |
| Payback | 1.2 yrs | 1 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $271,280 | $235,428 |
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 CUNY Brooklyn College?
CUNY Brooklyn College, at $3,103 a year after aid versus $4,195 — a gap of $1,092 a year, or $4,368 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 CUNY Brooklyn College graduates earn more?
CUNY Queens College graduates report a median $62,763 ten years after entry, $2,011 more than the $60,752 at CUNY Brooklyn 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 CUNY Brooklyn College?
CUNY Queens College: its completers carry a median $10,298 in federal loans versus $11,000 at CUNY Brooklyn College, a difference of $702. 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?
54% of students finish at CUNY Brooklyn College, 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.