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College of Staten Island CUNY logo
Public Staten Island, NY · Urban · Mid-Atlantic · 100% data
A Value A Affordability A- Diversity
Graduation Rate
33% D
Lower completion rate than most colleges
Earnings (10yr)
$53,501 B
Well above the typical college graduate
Net Price
$5,579 A
67% less than the typical college
Acceptance Rate
92% D
Accessible to most qualified applicants
Earnings +31% vs avg
Graduation -42% vs avg
Net Price +-67% vs avg

Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 82.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $82.0 over 20 years. Ranked #6 in Most Affordable Colleges for Physical Sciences.

82.0× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $82.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,806,923.

What The Data Says

  1. A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.

  2. Earnings 31% above the national college median.

  3. Graduation of 33% — 42% below the national average.

  4. Every $1 invested returns $82.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why College of Staten Island CUNY Matters

College of Staten Island CUNY is a public university in Staten Island, NY and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Public University
Carnegie Class
Master's University
Enrollment
9,657
Setting
Urban
Designations
HSI
Primary Strengths
Business & Marketing, Psychology, Humanities, Health Professions

Why students choose College of Staten Island CUNY

Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Outstanding value
Low net price against strong graduate earnings
Strength in Business & Marketing
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

B-
Top 32% overall
B
Earnings
$53,501 median
A
Value
9.6× net price
A
Affordability
$5,579/yr net
D
Graduation
33% graduate
D
Selectivity
92% admit rate
A-
Diversity
0.72 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

With nearly 10,000 students enrolled, the College of Staten Island is a solid choice for those seeking a diverse urban college experience. The 92% acceptance rate suggests that the school is open to a wide range of applicants. Students here often pursue programs in Business and Marketing, Humanities, Psychology, Health Professions, and Computer Science & IT, which reflects the school's focus on practical, career-oriented education.

Looking at what happens after graduation, students can expect to earn around $53,501 ten years post-graduation. This figure provides a realistic expectation for many who invest their time and resources into their education here. The affordability is notable as well, with a net price of $5,579 after aid. Moreover, about half of the students receive Pell Grants, indicating that the school is accessible for those who may need financial assistance to achieve their educational goals.

When it comes to the financial aspects of attending, students graduate with a median debt of $14,350, which is manageable compared to many other institutions. This makes College of Staten Island an attractive option for those who want to minimize their debt while obtaining a degree. Students who thrive here often value a supportive community and are looking for practical pathways to their careers without the burden of excessive costs.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective College of Staten Island CUNY is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into College of Staten Island CUNY? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Staten Island, New York, College of Staten Island CUNY admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 92%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,040. The graduation rate is roughly 33%.

Acceptance Rate
92%
Retention Rate
76%
SAT Average
1040
SAT Range
890–1250
Full-Time Faculty
32%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$12,665
Student–Faculty Ratio
16:1
Diversity Index
0.72
First-Gen Students
47%

Can I Afford It?

What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.

Cost & Financial Aid

How Much Does It Cost to Attend College of Staten Island CUNY? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at College of Staten Island CUNY is $15,440, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $5,579. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,903 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $14,350 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$7,490
Out-of-State
$15,440
Avg Net Price
$5,579
Median Debt
$14,350
Pell Grant Rate
50%
Federal Loan Rate
10%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$3,903
Family Income $30K–$48K
$4,473
Family Income $48K–$75K
$7,364
Family Income $110K+
$13,444

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Students Like You

Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at College of Staten Island CUNY — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is College of Staten Island CUNY Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of College of Staten Island CUNY earn a median of $53,501, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

6 Years After Entry
$36,931
8 Years
$48,653
10 Years
$53,501
Debt-to-Earnings
0.27x
Earning > $25K
56%

Earnings Trajectory

$36,931 6yr $48,653 8yr $53,501 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (179)
26%
100% (179)
26%
100% (179)
26%
100% (179)
26%

How College Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation33%Earnings 10yr$54KNet Price$6KRetention76%Median Debt$14KPell Grant Rate50%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$4K$0-30K$4K$30-48K$7K$48-75K$13K$110K+

College ROI Calculator

Is College of Staten Island CUNY Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, College of Staten Island CUNY delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $5,579/year ($22,316 total). Graduates earn $53,501 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,829,239 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,806,923 (82.0× your investment). The median debt is $14,350, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 33% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$22,316
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,829,239
Net Return
$1,806,923
ROI Multiple
82.0×
Cost Per Year
$5,579
Median Debt
$14,350
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
33%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is College of Staten Island CUNY? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at College of Staten Island CUNY. Its economic connectedness score is 1.52, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.52
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
0.02
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
5.3%
Support Ratio
0.97
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Federal Grants
$3,326,396
Investment Income
$34,423

Top Programs

The fields College of Staten Island CUNY awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.

Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into College of Staten Island CUNY? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in Staten Island, New York, College of Staten Island CUNY admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 92%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,040. The graduation rate is roughly 33%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend College of Staten Island CUNY? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at College of Staten Island CUNY is $15,440, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $5,579. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,903 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $14,350 in federal student loans.

Is College of Staten Island CUNY Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of College of Staten Island CUNY earn a median of $53,501, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

How Connected Is College of Staten Island CUNY? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at College of Staten Island CUNY. Its economic connectedness score is 1.52, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

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The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

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The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

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