Head-to-head comparison
CUNY Queens College vs CUNY City 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 New York, NY
CUNY City College
- Net price / year
- $3,776
- Earnings, 10 years
- $66,039
- Payback
- 0.9 yrs
CUNY City College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $15,104 in 0.9 years versus 1.2 years at CUNY Queens College, on median earnings of $66,039 vs $62,763 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | CUNY Queens College | CUNY City College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $4,195 | $3,776 |
| Total net cost | $16,780 | $15,104 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $62,763 | $66,039 |
| Median debt | $10,298 | $11,990 |
| Payback | 1.2 yrs | 0.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $271,280 | $338,476 |
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 City College?
CUNY City College, at $3,776 a year after aid versus $4,195 — a gap of $419 a year, or $1,676 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 City College graduates earn more?
CUNY City College graduates report a median $66,039 ten years after entry, $3,276 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 CUNY City College?
CUNY Queens College: its completers carry a median $10,298 in federal loans versus $11,990 at CUNY City College, a difference of $1,692. 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?
57% of students finish at CUNY City 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.