CUNY Brooklyn College
#1 Most Affordable Colleges for Visual- Graduation Rate
- 55% C
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $60,752 A-
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $3,103 A+
- 82% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 58% B
- Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Bottom line: A A- overall grade — strong outcomes across the board. 147.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $147.4 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Most Affordable Colleges for Visual.
Every $1 spent returns $147.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,817,507.
What The Data Says
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An A- overall — top 13% of all U.S. colleges on measured outcomes.
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Earnings 49% above the national college median.
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Social mobility rate of 8.07% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $147.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why CUNY Brooklyn College Matters
CUNY Brooklyn College is a public university in Brooklyn, NY and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. 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
- 10,543
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Psychology, Computer Science & IT, Education
Why students choose CUNY Brooklyn College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 58% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 950–1340. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $3,103 a year after grants and scholarships — 82% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $60,752 ten years after enrolling — 49% above the typical college, against $11,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 8.1% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 1% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.68 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With over 10,500 students, CUNY Brooklyn College serves a diverse community that thrives on a wide array of programs. If you’re leaning toward fields like Business and Marketing, Psychology, or Education, this school has a lot to offer. The acceptance rate of 58% makes it accessible, while a graduation rate of 55% shows that many students find a path to completing their degrees. That’s crucial when you’re thinking about your future.
Looking at life after graduation, students can expect to earn about $60,752 a decade down the line. This figure speaks volumes about the potential return on your investment. The affordability factor is also significant, with a net price of just $3,103 after aid. For many, especially those who qualify for Pell Grants—57% of the student body—this financial support can ease the burden of student debt, which averages around $11,000.
When weighing the practicalities, CUNY Brooklyn College stands out for its affordability and supportive environment. Students who tend to thrive here are often those who appreciate a vibrant, urban setting and are motivated to take advantage of the diverse academic offerings. With manageable costs and a focus on practical outcomes, it’s a solid choice for those ready to put in the work for their future.
Rankings
- #1 Most Affordable Colleges for Visual
- #1 Most Affordable Colleges for Graphic Design
- #2 Most Affordable Colleges for Business
- #2 Most Affordable Colleges for Education
- #2 Most Affordable Colleges for Accounting
- #2 Most Affordable Colleges for Finance
- #2 Most Affordable Colleges for Marketing
- #2 Most Affordable Colleges for Management
Can I Get In?
How selective CUNY Brooklyn College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into CUNY Brooklyn College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Brooklyn, New York, CUNY Brooklyn College offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 58% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,140. The graduation rate is roughly 55%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 58%
- Retention Rate
- 80%
- SAT Average
- 1140
- SAT Range
- 950–1340
- Full-Time Faculty
- 32%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $12,737
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 13:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.78
- First-Gen Students
- 48%
- Applicants
- 28,890
- Admitted
- 15,758
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 CUNY Brooklyn College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at CUNY Brooklyn College is $15,402, 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 $3,103. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $1,029 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $11,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $7,452
- Out-of-State
- $15,402
- Avg Net Price
- $3,103
- Median Debt
- $11,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 57%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 7%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $1,029
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $2,287
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $6,193
- Family Income $110K+
- $12,254
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 CUNY Brooklyn College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is CUNY Brooklyn College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of CUNY Brooklyn College earn a median of $60,752, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $45,035
- 8 Years
- $54,349
- 10 Years
- $60,752
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.18x
- Earning > $25K
- 60%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (381)
- 28%
- 100% (381)
- 28%
- 100% (381)
- 28%
- 100% (381)
- 28%
How CUNY Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is CUNY Brooklyn College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, CUNY Brooklyn College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $3,103/year ($12,412 total). Graduates earn $60,752 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,829,919 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,817,507 (147.4× your investment). The median debt is $11,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 55% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $12,412
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,829,919
- Net Return
- $1,817,507
- ROI Multiple
- 147.4×
- Cost Per Year
- $3,103
- Median Debt
- $11,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 55%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does CUNY Brooklyn College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
CUNY Brooklyn College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 8.07%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 23.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 34.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $52,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 8.07%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 34.7%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 23.2%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $70,922
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $6,270,478
- Investment Income
- $91,941
Top Programs
The fields CUNY Brooklyn College 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.
- Business & Marketing 26%
- Psychology 15% $34,377 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 10%
- Education 10%
- Visual & Performing Arts 9%
- Health Professions 6% $66,496 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 5%
- Social Sciences 4%
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.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for CUNY Brooklyn College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into CUNY Brooklyn College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Brooklyn, New York, CUNY Brooklyn College offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 58% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,140. The graduation rate is roughly 55%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend CUNY Brooklyn College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at CUNY Brooklyn College is $15,402, 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 $3,103. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $1,029 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $11,000 in federal student loans.
Is CUNY Brooklyn College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of CUNY Brooklyn College earn a median of $60,752, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does CUNY Brooklyn College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
CUNY Brooklyn College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 8.07%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 23.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 34.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $52,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is CUNY Brooklyn College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at CUNY Brooklyn College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.68, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to CUNY Brooklyn College.
- CUNY Lehman CollegeBronx, NY · Close peer50% grad $58,013 earn 57% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- CUNY John Jay College of Criminal JusticeNew York, NY · Close peer56% grad $56,195 earn 57% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- CUNY City CollegeNew York, NY · Close peer56% grad $66,039 earn 60% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- CUNY Hunter CollegeNew York, NY · Close peer59% grad $63,163 earn 54% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- CUNY Queens CollegeQueens, NY · Close peer56% grad $62,763 earn 64% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Farmingdale State CollegeFarmingdale, NY · Close peer55% grad $69,781 earn 63% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · same state
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is CUNY Brooklyn College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at CUNY Brooklyn College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.68, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note